Authenticity vs. Etiquette

To dance or not to dance, that is the question.  Whether it is better to embrace the elements, (rain, gray skies, fog) or succumb to sadness, (small plates for big food, cousin's flights cancelled, Uncle DJ walking out mid reception), such outrageous fortune to suffer. Not!

Yet to realize, to live, that moment immemorial, the union, sacred, the reason why we are here, friends and family, watching, witnessing, the vows, the mystic marriage, Love, the choice...

When you are a mother, and your only biological son gets married, you want everything to be smooth, you want it to be beautiful, you want it to be perfect.  But expectations can kill you if you let them. People are not perfect, some people are unappreciative, and some people, unfortunately, are just stupid. I'm not judging, just observing.  

That is where my question of Authenticity vs. Etiquette arises.  Is it ok to be authentically an asshole? Is it acceptable to be authentically stupid? If you can't fix stupid, can you forgive it? Can you forgive it when it cuts off the bride and grooms 's first dance halfway through the song?  Can you forgive it for playing the Macarena AND the Cupid Shuffle DURING dinner? Can you forgive it when it walks out the door pissed, at 7pm with 2 hours of dancing and reception left?

Maybe.  And maybe you even count it as a blessing.  You make a quick run to Dollar General (again after getting bigger dinner plates) to get a portable speaker that you can hook up to someone's smart phone (smarter than the dj probably...ooh that's just mean...or true?).  Trust me, there was more ranting let out in private, but even then we chose peace. It's what we do.

And you remain grateful. Grateful that your only son doesn't seem to be bothered by the inconvenience. He and his bride are in the company of friends and family and those who love them.  They are grateful for a beautiful ceremony and a great dinner. They have a little 16 month old (my adorable grandson) who is holding up AMAZINGLY well at that point in the day but could probably benefit from going home early to go to sleep anyway. 

Gratitude. Family.  Friends.  Love...saves the day.  And we get to dance!

To sleep per chance to dream?  To Live.  To Dance.  To Love.  Good night...zzzzzzz