"When I look at her, and she smiles, the whole world melts away."
Jordan's Grandparents celebrated their 66th Wedding Anniversary this weekend. We drove to Portland early Saturday morning and dropped Maggie and Jack off with my folks for the day. Mom was making her Thanksgiving dressing that Grampa Matthiesen complimented a few years back when we had a Thanksgiving party at Jordan's old house. Mom dropped off her dressing as a way to contribute to a party she could not attend due to other plans. Well, Grampa raved about it and now every year, if Mom has the chance, she makes a batch for Grampa. So, as I watched mom smile her way through making another double batch she handed me a large portion to go to them as we headed out the door. Mom thank you, and Grampa thanks you, he was so pleased to get some more!
As the day went on, we picked up Matt and Dixee to share in this special experience of going to the Eagles lodge for this special occasion. The Country Dutchman were playing that night and are all friends of Jordan's grandparents, Ted and Betty. They are always so surprised to see us and so happy that we're there. It really is a homecoming of sorts. Everyone is so full of hugs, and smiles and good stories. They were happy to see Matt again as it has been years since they've seen him, and it's been more than a year since we've been able to catch up ourselves. We've taken Jordan's grandparents to this lodge before to see their friends and to listen to this band and dance the night away. We don't know how to polka...we don't know how to waltz or foxtrot....but we always put ourselves out there to sway to the music with everyone and make the best of it out there. Everyone is so nice at the Eagles and we adore making special trips to take Gramma and Grampa there.
Let me just say that it is always so inspiring and emotional for me to attend these events. To me, this is such a testimony. Let alone the shared interest of dance between Jordan and Grampa, the shared love of music between them as well, but to watch everyone absolutely fills me with love and joy. I have wanted to be here since Jordan and I started dating, when we were engaged and when we were newlyweds. This is where I want to be when I'm 60...when I'm 70, when I'm 80 and beyond. I want to be in the arms of Jordan and our friends dancing around a dance floor, staying up till midnight, eating pie and sandwiches at 10:00, playing raffles, knowing the band, and having my family take us there so we can smile our little heads off all night long as often as we can. It is enviable to watch Jordan's grandparents smile and laugh and saying the sweetest things about each other.
Jordan's grampa told everyone that night that they were married in 1941, right before Pearl Harbor's invasion. Harold, the concertina player announced that Ted and Betty were celebrating their 66th wedding anniversary. Grampa shouted from his seat hello's to dancer-bys...People stopped their dancing to come say "Congratulations" and to shake hands and to share stories. To one couple, I overheard him say "When I look at her, and she smiles, the whole world melts away." My heart swelled, I couldn't help but put my hand there to keep it contained it within me.
Gramma requested a song..."Can I have this Dance, for the rest of my life" and the band happily obliged. And even if she didn't dance, I remember her dancing with Grampa in years past when they've celebrated their 64th anniversary before. This time, she sat in her little chair as Grampa sang along. It was so hard to pull it together and not just lose it in the sentimentality of it all. I think of my meemaw and peepaw, my mom and dad, my friends Barbara and Kraig, the only loves of each other's lives and I watch it in Jordan's grandparents, and I can't help but find it so touching. I've been so lucky to see so many people in love wanting to be able to share it and wanting to express it and keep it and simply wanting it for others to find as well.
Here we are~Matt and Dixee Ann, Jordan and I. Here is Grampa dancing with their friend Bris. I just love her and was so glad she could join us at our wedding two years ago!
An Indigo Girls song "We're better off for all that we let in" comes to mind for me today as I'm reminiscing and going over photos of the weekend. I can never help but go further into our stash of photos. May you all have a wonderful day. Thank you for joining me today as everything is so tender.
P.S. Maggie, Jack misses you and wants you to come back soon so you two can play again, ok? He's sulking and dropping toys at my feet and way too excited at possibilities of "going for a ride." Camp Matthiesen misses you!
oh, and you know this girl just loves to goof around at a dance! Ooh la la sending kisses your way!
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