It's The Climb!

I used to hear people say that the journey is more important than the destination and figured they ought to pick a more exciting destination! There was a time, not all that long ago, when I was all about the final goal...nose to the grindstone and get there! No stopping to smell any roses! My forty-something experience hosts a new attitude; maybe it's one of more patience . Or, more likely, my desire to enjoy the ride may simply be a matter of not having the drive to race to the finish line with as much vigor...Either way, the journey is looking pretty good. I'm starting to see the virtue in Miley's song: "It's the climb".

And climb we do! Our calendar is peppered with "milestones" ...there may be 4 or 5 of them a year...and between each of these "ultimate destinations" are 360 journey days. Life becomes richer when each step along the way is cherished with the same appreciation afforded the "main event". I've learned an important lesson in trekking through this life - take time to appreciate the incidentals that make each adventure real: it's all the little things that define the experience and that give credence and legitimacy to the celebration at the summit!

The events of the past week and the simple joys, laughs and challenges that paved the road to a beautiful wedding celebration in Barrie prove that the pleasure is in the journey and that the celebration is even sweeter when every moment is cherished along the way. The plan was for a simple wedding reception for my brother-in-law and his new bride; 20 or so people, in my mother-in-law's back yard...Wait, make that 30, no maybe 40 - oops, let's go with 50 - for a pig roast and luau - or, how about a traditional beef roast - wait - let's move it to my sister-in-law's yard...yeah - and we'll have it catered....or we can make all the food - but we'll need to rent tables...and chairs! Let's rent 4 rectangular - no - 5...make that 7 rounds! Let's get dishes, glasses, napkins and cutlery too - and up that order three times...Welcome to June - and - in mountaineering terms - base camp!

The party needed to be on a Friday - to accommodate the bride and groom's travel plans. So we would plan to get there Wednesday, and spend Thursday and Friday shopping, cooking and setting up. Sounds logical...and in normal circumstances it would be a simple "climb" - but simple isn't our style - so let's shake things up a little - throw in a graduation party (Wednesday night), Birth of puppies (4:00 am Thursday morning), a Lifesaving course that my nephew had to take all weekend long, coordinating the pick up of family from the airport as they started to trickle into town, and the threat of the LCBO going on strike!!! Now let's check the oxygen supply at 10,000 feet!

On pure adrenaline, we powered through the Wednesday night grad formalities and Samantha rekindled her close friendship with her cousin, leaving the grad party so they could spend time together at home. Then, as silence washed over the house (except for the din of Mario Kart engines racing in the family room) - Harley decided now would be a great time to give birth! On zero sleep, we were mid wives by night, delivering 4 puppies - and caterers by day - loading an unprecedented three baskets full of food at Costco - and buying everything needed for spectacular centerpieces...(except tethers to hold the damn vases down in the wind)...

Autopilot kicked in for this part of the journey...making cheese platters, veggie trays, salmon rolls, dips, salads of every kind, desserts...and as the tables, counters and every possible kitchen surface overflowed with wedding food, it became obvious that storage would be a huge issue...So, in keeping with the wedding tradition - to include something borrowed - we were on the phone borrowing a fridge! Mark and the boys literally trekked down the street and hoisted a neighbours fridge right out of their basement - door came off, and before long a full fridge was sitting in the garage - another good laugh and problem solved...As more family started to arrive, more adventures were in the making - by late Thursday night - we were ready for sleep - but Mario Kart racers would hear nothing of it...woohoo

Excitement mounted in proportion to exhaustion as the climb intensified...Friday was here - and the sun was shining! Boys were going kayaking and we were going to set up the yard, the roasts, the flower arrangements and anything else that needed setting up! Ice - check, beer and wine - check, tables, chairs, dishes...still waiting....No stress...the bride and groom were relaxing down the street at my in-law's home...we had made up enough food trays to hold them all up over there for a month...and last guest, sister Janet's flight from Regina was delayed...oh the climb!

By 3:00 the truck had arrived and unloaded all the tables, chairs and rental supplies. The party was scheduled to start at 6:00...Loads of time! All hands were on deck to set up tables - but how many men would it take to get the table clothes to stay on the tables and not blow around? FOUR with giant staple guns! They went to town on the cloths - ingeniously stapling fabric to wood...this he-man moment was followed by the tying and staking of the roasts, several grunts and a few beers...ah the climb!

The dozens of roses, arranged among baby's breath in pretty pink water and tall vases were the biggest challenge. The wind would pick up and send them soaring across the linen - threatening to spit red food coloured water all over the 50 carefully rolled yellow napkins the girls had assembled for cutlery! We debated what to do with them...and finally added a few extra marbles and hoped for the best as we sat guests and advised them to look out for flying vases when the wind picked up...of course, I reminded myself to stop and smell the roses every once in a while.

Toasts, bits of marriage advise, music, dance and lots of wine followed. The food was great, music sweet and company even sweeter. The summit came with the cutting of the beautiful, custom designed wedding cake...everyone was full, dry and happy - life was good!

We partied and celebrated until daybreak...then, the bride and groom opened wedding gifts on the patio - in the mid-morning sun. My daughter caught the bouquet, we all saw them off - and as the airport shuttle pulled out of the driveway - we closed another chapter - checked another milestone off the calendar and reflected on the success of the event.

Today, from a 40-something vantage point - I can say for sure that my fondest memories all took shape behind the scenes - off the beaten path - as the sun was rising, or setting...in the bustling pre-party kitchen, or the laundry-room turned delivery room...in the aisles of Costco or in the Dollarama glasswear section. There is no question that the event was a huge success - but the journey was overflowing with goodness - not to be under rated by tired bones or a sleepy brain - because that's when you know the climb was really great!!!