This photo was captured on my last afternoon with both my mother and my godmother, and it will be a precious memento for years to come. We stood on a balcony in the Palm Beach sunshine and did nothing but smile in that embrace. Now, they are both gone, but I count myself the luckiest of girls to have been with them for six decades, for their love is an epic tale.
We gathered in Austin, coming from one coast or the other, to raise a glass and give our cheer, for a moment all so dear. Parents and brothers and sisters, children too, now extended across the two families: this is what a marriage brings together.
During the morning we watched the Annual Pet Parade, and discovered what gems we could in the afternoon. At night, we donned our best to gather in Justine’s secret garden and celebrate with the newlyweds. There were, of course, tears here and there, knowing just how much our mother would have loved this fabulous party. She would have crafted a poem to recite for the occasion, as she did for so many birthdays and anniversaries and weddings. Filled with clever and not so clever rhymes, and we would have listened and laughed and so enjoyed her theatrics. Instead, auspiciously, my brother recited Wordsworth, from memory, to his new bride, and by doing so he made us laugh, he caused us to remember, and he helped us all to look forward.
With two-carts of groceries, the grape juice, egg noodles, green beans and a thousand other items to feed 12 people for four days 
in addition to serving the Big Dinner, making beds of every sort in every possible nook, gathering extra blankets and towels and pillows, wrapping gifts and hanging festive lights, remembering both cranberry and stuffing recipes, lining the mantle and every table top with Santas galore, setting up the creche, first airport run, second, arranging for the third, lighting the tree star, rolling out the dough, baking pies and decorating sugar cookies, hanging the stockings, getting the turkey in the oven before noon, popping a few corks, conducting a proper Yankee swap with plenty of steals, giving the cheer, sharing our blessings, holding hands to voice our thanks before the feast, the walking talks and monster hike and ping-pong and even a new Star Wars! All done without our Shinning Christmas Star who would have loved this holiday; loved for those who came despite their sorrow, for those who came despite their inevitable travel snafus, and for those who brought extra cheer to fill the gap. Despite the long shadow, Christmas 2015 will be remembered for the best reasons.
Nine Cent Girl 