Chicago: days 2&3

Well, I managed to 'uber' my family all over the city of Chicago and slept on a twin size roll-away bed with my 5 year old. We swam, visited the Chicago children's museum, went on the ginormous Ferris wheel on Navy Pier,  and counted 8 Starbuck's shops in about 2 blocks. I ate my SSHE meals whenever I could, which wasn't all the time, but when I couldn't, I really made good choices. I'd give the weekend an overall grade of B- for my performance. Hey - I'll take it. 

Saturday night was the wedding and weddings are just stinkin' fun. People are happy, dressed up in pretty clothes and are usually with a date or spouse. Drinks are flowing and the music is loud and danceable. Kids are jumping around like crazy, amazed to see their great auntie shakin' it like a Polaroid picture.

The wedding ceremony was at a Greek Orthodox Church near downtown. Gorgeous painting on the walls, ornate decoration and a slightly out of tune cantor. My cousin is a kid from all over the country - Kansas, Texas, Chicago -and a former / recovering Catholic.  His wife Lisa is Greek and Arab with a huge family. How awesome to see these two dancing around the altar with crowns on their heads while the priest was singing the Gospel. Yep, the whole wedding at Cana story sung. 🎼And his mother Mary said to the servants "do whatever he tells you."🎤. I told Jason I wished I'd been a mouse in the corner when Lisa told him all about what their ceremony would entail. 😁

But then came the photo booth, the open bar, the DJ.  Arabic line dancing, the Twist, Footloose splits, and even some breakdancing by my kid. 

The heartbreaking moment was the mother son dance. My auntie Joann died of breast cancer 21 years ago. Jason and Lisa danced to my aunt's favorite song She Drives Me Crazy by The Fine Young Cannibals. Our whole side of the family sat with tears in our eyes. [edit 6/27] 

I looked to my own son, treasuring the memories we were making. Holding his hand a little tighter, I prayed a grateful prayer. A prayer for families - new and just beginning, for health, for a cure for cancer, for the tiny humans I am so blessed to mother. 

And then I dabbed with my nieces and nephews like nobody's business.  Life is a gift.