The Blue Bird of Happiness

– by Teresa Dean Smeigh 2015

Approximately 10 years ago (15 years now) my oldest daughter K1 was married. It was a crazy time and the wedding planning was rough as her father and I were divorced and she and her soon-to-be inlaws paid for most of the wedding. I had no money as a divorcee struggling to raise a son on my own, but managed to pay for half the wedding gown.

The gown was beautiful and it was made just for her. You know how you try something on and it is the one? She tried it on at the shop and they had her out front so everyone could see and all the customers came over to watch. She tried on several gowns, but we all loved the same one.  She picked out her bridesmaid’s gowns, but she had to be mindful of the fact that one of them was pregnant and although she would have the baby before then the dress would probably have to cover baby fat. The dresses picked out looked really good on all 3 of the girls. They were all dressed in dark blue or a navy blue, not sure which.

Her sister, K2, was the maid of honor. K2’s son was the ring bearer. Our son W was on the guy’s side. He looked nice in his Tux.

The day of the wedding all of the woman were at the beauty parlor getting their hair done. The girl did a beautiful job with the bride’s hair and had incorporated her veil. She looked beautiful.

While they continued working on the girls, K1 went outside to smoke. She is standing out there and all of a sudden we hear her yelling. She puts out the cigarette and comes running inside. Her words were, “A bird just shit on my veil!” She started to get really upset. We got some damp rags and set to work washing the bird poop out of the veil. It cleaned up nice thankfully.

We managed to convince her that it was good luck for a bird to poop on your veil.

Then just as we get her calmed down storm clouds start rolling in. Thundershowers were predicted.

We get to the church for the wedding with no rain, but by the time the reception had rolled around it had already rained.

The pictures were supposed to be taken outside. They had a beautiful setting for pictures, but the dark cloud remained, the ground was soaking wet and it was thundering again.

They took just the bride and groom out to the small river and put down tarps and took a few outside shots. We had to convince her again that rain on your wedding was good luck. What else could go wrong?

The next problem was that they wanted my ex-husband and me to walk in together. His girlfriend was mad about that, but she wasn’t family. So we walked in next to each other, but not holding hands like the other couples.

Finally we are all seated and my ex and I were at different tables. All the kids were at the head tables so I was sitting with my family and K2’s escort. Our friends were seated with the ex and his girlfriend.

The funny thing was that he didn’t dance with his girlfriend he was dancing with an old friend that he was close to. Watching that I believe that even though they claimed to be just friends while we were married, I think there was more than that going on. I was kind of mad and so was the girlfriend. The bad thing was that I promised to give this girl a ride home. I promised so I did it. I wasn’t happy about it.

Even with the rocky start to their marriage, they have 2 beautiful children and are happily married.

Hosted by Sue Vincent

Thursday photo prompt: Veiled #writephoto

Photo by Sue Vincent

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a green horizon, beyond which the mist veils a hill topped with strange rock formations.

Lost

by Tessa Dean June 2020

The mist was getting worse, and Joanna could barely see 3 feet in front of her. How was she supposed to find a small child in this weather?

Her best friend’s daughter, Gina, had wandered out of the partially unlatched door, and now she and 50 other villagers were looking for her frantically as the weather was getting worse, and the mist was getting thicker as the time got later. Soon it would be dark as well. Finding the child before the mist got any closer was necessary.

You could hear the volunteers shouting frantically, “Gina, Gina, please answer us. Come on, baby girl, and make a sound.”

Joanna didn’t think at three years old that Gina would be able to wander very far, but she didn’t know. The child’s mother was crying hysterically, and her mother was trying to comfort her.

Joanna looked around her, calling frantically for Gina, but there was no response. Now, where would a three-year-old child hide if she was hiding? You couldn’t tell with children.

Joanna thought she heard a whimper nearby. She listened, and the sound seemed to be coming from the hill that was nearby and covered with rocks and trees. Is it possible she was down there somewhere? Maybe she fell.

Joanna struggled over the edge of the hill, and listening found Gina a few feet down from the top. She picked up the now crying child and hugged her close. Gina stopped trembling and settled into Joanna’s arms.

The child’s mother, Marci, was at the top of the hill and had spotted them and made her way carefully down the slope and took the proffered child who snuggled happily in her mother’s arms.

*******283 words*******

My new logo:

Tessa – 

Advocate for mental health and invisible illnesses, also a devout Christian

Author – http://www.finallyawriter.com (this blog contains my old work mostly although occasionally I do add something new here), new work is mainly on this blog http://www.tessacandoit.com

Author of a book, a work in progress on the blog, https://tessacandoit.com/government-property-a-memoir-as-a-military-wife/

Highlighted chapters are done and ready to be read.

I am also a youtuber in the authortube section on writing. See my videos here:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSpNS-6gfJ0s8eD1berLwQg

A Mother’s Love – by Tessa Dean (2015)

Mother I feel your love

surrounding me now.

Is it my thoughts of you

that bring you forth to 

comfort me?

I still miss you, you know?

I miss our talks and your

great wisdom.

You were my best friend,

you brushed away my tears with

a gentle touch.

You helped me through 

the rough spots.

Mother I feel your love

surrounding me now.