Whata ya have?

When you are getting ready to "give away" your daughter, you need your family around you. Now, I would never give my daughter away. That is just marriage vernacular. But I am entering a new phase...So my dear family...my mother and her husband, my brothers and their wives, and my cousins gathered around and gave my daughter and my STBSIL an around the house shower and they provided a catered dinner. The yard was manicured, outdoor furniture was cleaned off and pillows were plumped. Now it is August and it is summertime and it is hot and humid. This is the perfect formula for a thunder boomer. And did it ever!!! Rained cats and dogs. This just added to the fun. There is a dining establishment in our city that is an institution. It serves greasy chili dogs, onion rings and fries. This institution's truck was parked in my brother's driveway. His carport was full of wine and beer and when you got hungry, you just got an umbrella, walked up to this truck and placed your order....How AWESOME is that!!!???? If you were not raised on this fine cuisine, it could make you a smidge sick...all that grease and all. However, my entire family has been consuming these tantalizing food choices for generations. We dig it!!!We were all a little sweaty and a little greasy. At an appointed hour, we all came inside and watched my daughter and STBSIL open their gifts. They got great booty. We had so much fun. My cousin made sounds like a bagpipe and I sang along to Amazing Grace. I think we could be on America's Got Talent. We all like each other and we like the happy couple's friends. They are full of stories that I can laugh at now...wouldn't have been able to work up a smile several years ago. I am so very, very thankful for my family. I am thankful for the gift of laughter. I am thankful that a little rain doesn't dampen our spirits. I am thankful that my daughter and STBSIL are loved. I pray they will have a strong and happy union.