"Going to The Chapel ..."

 

     Thursday evening greetings from here in Crazy Weather Washington.
I am going to take this time to share a little more about my younger years - pre wrestling for a minute. I mean, I guess I would have to include some of this writes on a different subject ONLY to be fair even though I could talk about my teenage years forever.

     As you remember from a scribble awhile back, I mentioned how when I was a youngster we would spend hours driving from my house to Aunt Marge's house on any given Sunday. I repeat: it was my least favorite place to go. I am not sure why. There was always amazing food cooking in the oven, the tv was ready to be set on whatever I wanted to watch, the corner housed a huge overstuffed chair that I could easily nap in for days. There were animals. Y'all know how much I love animals and O! There was a piano inviting anyone who passed by it to "tickle its ivories" if they pleased. I didn't know how to put out a tune if I tried so I never did. Even with all the things laid right there in front me - I was a kid and everything seemed real boring - real quick. I do remember though there was one thing I liked. Maybe a little to much? If I was "good" while visiting when we left we would get to stop at this little Drive Inn - called The Candy Cane. I swear that it was like the ONLY place in the whole d*amn town. Talk about Montana vibes ;) My order was always the same: 1 corn dog with two mustard packets. I always had to have two cuz that way I had 1 to put on my corn dog and the other to squirt all over Aunt Rose's new polyester outfit - BY accident of course. It is just weird how it happened every single time. My mouth still curves up just a little thinking about it and the look on her face. Priceless. 

     Now, another thing that used to make the trip a little more appealing then walking through the Valley of Death was this Small Chapel we would pass coming and going. It was the most tiniest of Churches that half a blink - you would definitely miss it. I always seen it though. I always commented in my head that when I grew up that was going to be the place that I got married in. I never thought of one of those big fancy weddings that most other girls wanted - spending hours night after night, listening to a favorite song - sitting endlessly cutting pictures out of magazines carefully gluing them in a "My Wedding" scrap book. That kind of luxe wasn't on  my agenda. I did want to get married but my heart was set on getting hitched at that small "Wayside Chapel" that stood in between Monroe and Sultan. It wasn't because it was lavish. It is because it was familiar.

     Pushing forward past my teen years into early adulthood - walking down the isle. Not at the Church though. Not at MY Church. The wedding was a disaster. I wasn't impressed knowing this wasn't going to be my happy ever after. It couldn't be. My shoes were to tight. I was wearing a dress. Ugh! A dress - last time ever. The decorations were mediocre and the ring, even though the diamond was more then big enough just didn't seem to shine bright enough. After the exchanging of the "I Do-s" all I could think about was this tiny Chapel, it being the place I should have been walking out of with my new name. I had to face a harsh reality. My little girl dreams were just that. Dreams. They didn't come true. Not this time.
     Ten years passed by faster then they could even be counted in the correct order. There were also 4 children added to the equation. My little girls - my young girls who followed right behind me as I grasped the golden handles on that tiny Chapel door emerging A Wood. This time it happened. It was the second time but it happened. It was (also) the last time - Unless we renew our vows someday but the verdict is still out on that one.

     I never know how long it will take but if and when I have a dream - you better believe it is going to come true. I will make it happen. This one took so many years but I owed it to myself and I am okay with that.

     The little Chapel still greets people from its same spot on the side of the road - for welcoming prayers and some weddings, like mine. It will always hold a very special place in my heart reminding me that dreams really do come true even if they are as far back as ones you had in your childhood.

     The other thing I really liked?
Seeing my house as we drove into the driveway at home.

                                                                           Kazz 💋

Quick shout out to the person I have been "married" to or with for the past 24 plus years. Man, all I got to say is that guy is one lucky dude.

*****Photograph: As pictured by: Kazz