it's over. well, at least the wedding is.

I've just gotten back from my godsister Jade's wedding. The wedding itself was very nice. The pastor was nuts; he kept trying to micromanage and began to freak out a little last night at the rehearsal. I'd never met Jeremy, Jade's husband before. He seems nice. (I'll let the ten year age difference speak for itself. Yeah. She's 18.) Amberleigh and I had to sing. I made the decision that if I ever marry, I don't want to have anyone under the age of 18 in my wedding party, and I don't want anyone singing. I think a nice string quartet would be lovely.

I'm not quite sure how I feel about my 18-year-old godsister's being married. I'd be a hypocrite if I said I was against it. Sometimes I feel like the only uniform thing I stand for in this life besides my faith in Jesus Christ is my unfailing romanticism; I'm always willing to stand up for love. If I can support two old men living happily ever after, why can't I support this union?

Maybe it scares me a little. Jade and I are so different. She has always wanted to be a wife and mother; she practically helped raise her siblings (of which she has 5 younger, ranging from 6 to 15). Obviously, I am career-oriented. I almost became physically ill when the pastor gave his message, about how the woman should lose herself in her husband and that individuality in marriage is a myth. At 21, that is not something I desire at all. I don't really see myself desiring it any time soon, either.

But it's been nice to see my family here. I spent some good time with my friend Cathy and her boyfriend Jake. She lives in Florida, so I rarely get to see her. Tristan came with us, so I got to spend time with him. My mother has taken to calling him her "adopted son." His presence is now accepted at all family gatherings; my father assumed he was coming on our family summer vacation. But anyway, at the first reception (don't ask why there were two), the photographer was trying to arrange us in a "family picture" (don't ask why we had to take family shots at the reception). He gestured to Tristan and I said that he was my brother. The photographer said, jokingly, he thought Tristan was my boyfriend. (I think he was confused.) But a few minutes later he told Tristan he was blocking "his sister" (Amberleigh). We were all highly amused. So now it seems as though I have a brother. Without anyone having to sign any legally binding contracts.