A Wedding and a Funeral: BMGS

Not much is going on in the wedding planning arena. I have made arrangements for all of the major things and I have about a month or two before I need to get more arrangements made. I always thought that I would go dress shopping the second I got engaged but instead, I am very very nervous about dress shopping. I am scared that I will not find anything I like or that nothing will look good on me and if I do find the perfect gown, everyone helping me will tell me it's not the one. I know that I need to find a dress that I want but what fun is it to get married in a dress that no one likes?

It has been almost 3 months since my mom died and it is slowly, very very slowly getting easier...actually its not but I figure that it might seem to get easier if I just say that it is. I still talk about her all the time. I think it makes people think I'm a little crazy but I can't help it. My sisters and I went through her her jewelry box and it was very...therapeutic. There are a lot of very memorable pieces in her jewelry box. Some big pieces, little pieces, expensive pieces and some pieces that aren't worth a buck but no matter the details they hold a little piece of our childhood where everything was "normal" or BMGS (Before Mom Got Sick). We ultimately decided that besides a few particular items we would leave mom's jewelry box the way we found and when we want to have a little piece of her with us, borrow what we wanted.

There are a few items that hold a very special place in our memories that we decided to split up. Amy has a beautiful necklace that has my nannie's (mom's mom) wedding ring stones it it. Dad had it made into a gorgeous three stone pendant necklace. I just love the jewelry I receive from my mom's side of the family. It probably is not the most expensive stuff but it sure came from the heart. My papa was a wonderful man and he loved y nanny so much. Before nanny died she gave me her mother's ring that my papa had made for her. I wear it all the time and it is one of my most special pieces of jewelry.

Tracy got a piece that just screams Patti. It was one of her most prized possessions besides her wedding rings. Several years ago my dad got my mom a beautiful cross necklace that she never took off. I remember being little with my head in her lap and I would just stare at it. I am really happy that Tracy gets it. Her and my mom were extremely close.

I get to have a aquamarine cocktail ring that I can remember playing with when I was little. I am not sure how much my mom even wore this ring but for some reason when I picture her in my mind she is always wearing it. I also have her wedding band. When we went to the funeral home they gave us her rings and I put it on and haven't taken it off since. It is just a simple gold band but to me it represents over thirty years of marriage.