This past weekend we not only celebrated my brother-in-law's wedding; we also celebrated my grandmother(-in-law?)'s 92nd birthday. Nona was surprised and tickled pink when she was presented with a cake and everyone sang to her at the rehearsal dinner.
This was quite a weekend for Nona. Earlier that day we took her to two assisted care facilities, because the one she's in now is something of a dump and it's too far for anyone to visit her regularly. She's already "busted out" (her words) of one nursing home and has tried to do it in the one she's in. It's really sad that her body just can't keep up with her mind anymore - she's still fairly sharp.
My father-in-law is only partially joking when he says he's just trying to outlive his mother. She's already way outlived her two husbands. She says she would've married a third, but he couldn't mow the lawn, and she had no need for a man who couldn't mow the lawn. She's a fireball. And also only partially joking.
One of the best pictures from our wedding last summer was when I tossed the bouquet and she went out to try to catch it. That's her in the pantsuit in the very front, head up and arms open.
It was everyone's favorite story from the wedding. So this time, the family was ready. Her sons slowly walked her out to the floor for my new sister-in-law's bouquet toss. They whispered to the other girls surrounding her.
The toss came and... hit her arm and fell to the floor. One of the bride's sisters quickly grabbed it and put it in Nona's still-outstretched hands. She could not have been more ecstatic. She soaked in all the cheers. It was a success.
Nona's only complaint of the night? "I didn't meet any rich man! Where were all the rich men?"