Dear Dad
I love you so much. And I'll be home in July to give you a real hug.
lots of love
Leah
(and Coco Chanel, Tiger Woods and Paul)
My Dad is pretty brilliant. Whether it's putting up custom shelving in the closet for my shoe collection or being the voice of reason when I'm working out business questions, he's great. Dad - you win #1 Father prize! I was looking for a picture of us together and I found these from our wedding (hello lovely Jenny Lee dress...actually that's a whole other post about how my Mum/Mom flew out from the UK to help me find my dress in two days). Anyway, doesn't my Dad look happy...he's probably thinking "finally!"
Funny story, our wedding planning was basically:
1) Buy a dress and tuxedo
2) Talk to the wedding planner at www.wynnlasvegas.com for one hour
3) Thats' it
So everything was super relaxed except for the 30 seconds before I walked down the aisle. It's all somewhat of a blur but I clearly remember standing with Dad as the planner said something along the lines of:
"OK...take her right arm in your left arm. Take two steps past the doors and then smile for the photographer. Walk slowly, smile big, when you get to the front put her right hand in Paul's left hand. Shake hands with your right hand with Paul's right hand. Did you get that? And don't step on her dress when you do the hand-off. [then speaking into her headpiece] OK bride ready now. Cue lights. Cue music up 5, 4, 3 , 2, 1. Opening doors in 3, 2, 1. Bride and Father entering now. Go! Go! Go!"
I remember looking at Dad and for the first time feeling kind of panicked, which hand would go where? We stepped inside the doors and he paused (as instructed) and I kept on marching forward to Paul :) Made for great video...
And I would be remiss not to award #1 Father-in-law prize too...and the winner is....George Haydock! And as my Sunday blog posts are usually poems, essays or readings, I'd like to share with you the reading that George did at our Las Vegas wedding.
May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.
May God be with you and bless you:
May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.
As I'm typing these words I'm remembering George saying them at our wedding in Las Vegas. Paul joked that George could make a fortune going from wedding chapel to wedding chapel and doing the Irish blessing with his Irish accent :)
Happy Sunday!
I love the tribute to your dad and father-in-law and what handsome fellows they are!
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