Blessed Here and in Heaven

Chapter 34

Carriage House

The people of the Franklin church organize Ruth’s wedding – Carol wrangles a dress 1977

Well a man shall leave his mother,

and a woman leave her home

They shall travel on to where the two shall be as one

As it was in the beginning is now until the end

A woman draws her life from man and gives it back again

And there is love, there is love. --

- Noel Paul Stookey – The Wedding Song Peter Paul and Mary The Very Best of Peter Paul and Mary

Blessed Here and in Heaven

Pastor Harris’ wife said, “It is so good to be here let us pause for a silent moment as we pray for the blessing this wedding will be and the young couple’s future.”

“OK for those who don’t know this lady is Ruth’s mother Bernice, and we welcome back Mrs. Donaldson and her daughter Debra. Mrs. Donaldson people still ask if there are any gooseberry pies at our annual Fall pie sale. It seemed you and Dell were famous for it.”

“Grandma Dell taught me. It is great to see you again. We are so thrilled for JB and Ruth.”

“The fellowship committee will organize a reception; Mrs. Chapman makes wonderful cakes. Mildred will play the prelude and recessional, do you have special music Ruth?”

"My cousin Lizzie wants to sing, she has a beautiful voice. I want Carol to accompany her on guitar, but I hadn’t asked her yet.”

“Ruth I am not that good, but I will try. What song?”

“It is lovely song from Dolly Parton. You will know it.”

“Possibly we can work it out once she is here. When is Lizzie coming?”

“She and her family will be here several days before the wedding at my folks. Lizzie can stay with us and you can practice with her. You will do a great job.”

Mrs. Harris continued, “I am a little tired of the wedding song, although I loved Peter, Paul, and Mary. It gets monotonous sometimes. Ruth why don’t you step behind this partition put on the dress Carol brought and then Edna can see what adjustments will need to be made.”

Carol helped Ruth into the dress, it was a close size match. An elegant dress it had a long train, hat, veil, and even slippers. Ruth stepped out to a chorus of aahs. “My what a dress”

“It must have cost a small fortune.”

“Did you buy this Carol?”

“It was my friend’s dress I was in her wedding.”

“Bride and dress are absolutely stunning."

Edna went to work, tucking and tugging, looking it over - “I need to have Ruth and the dress at my house and get some exact measurements, but I can make it fit her like a glove. “

“OK we’ll come over before we go home. I just want to thank you all, you have loved me from the moment I came to church here. JB was very uneasy, but you have won him over. You are all blessings to me.”

Debra spoke up, “My husband has organized a whole hog roast, and everyone is invited to Parker’s Market after the reception. Ruth has relatives who are coming from Kentucky and Tennessee and some play so there will be music.”

“Thank you for coming. Carol needs to take Ruth to Edna’s; the fellowship committee can work out details with the family. Please join me in a closing prayer.' We join our hearts to bless this marriage, A wedding is a celebration, but a marriage is a lifetime an eternal union. A marriage takes two separate beings and makes a better unity. May JB and Ruth grow together and grow in this church supported by a loving church family. May God’s Spirit carry you home and sustain you through this week.'”

Ruth gave every woman in the room a hug and then changed back out of her wedding dress.

Edna had a dress shop in a converted carriage house. They came in and Edna carefully measured Ruth. “That is a lovely dress when was your friend’s wedding/’

“Oh, three years ago.”

“It is kind of her to give it to Ruth.”

“She isn’t one to keep things. She is a long-time friend and she wanted to help. It cost me a trip to Des Moines and left Ruth with more work for two days.”

“It was a very expensive dress. I have seen this design in magazines. The very height of fashion and Ruth is simply beautiful in it. I have what I need, I will do some work, and then have Ruth back in for a final fitting.”

“Miss Edna, I’ll pay you when we finish our season and get some money to settle up.”

“Oh no, Ruth this is all a joy. You will not pay me. You are the brightest little candle to join our church in a long time. We talked at UMW and making your wedding day a nice ceremony was something we are all thrilled to do.”

We pulled away from the cute little dress shop and started home.

“Have you been to a doctor?”

“I’m not sick, why?”

“For birth control you want to choose when you have a baby”

“Yes, I’m worried about that and I am a little nervous about being with a man, anyway. I don’t know if JB will be happy with me.”

“I would stop worrying. A couple ladies from Planned Parenthood come to the New Harmony market. It will be a good place to answer questions put you in control. I don’t think having a child immediately would be best for a marriage.”

“I was afraid of being alone with a man. I know nothing and Billie Joe was a pawing and reaching under my skirt if he ever got me alone. JB’s been kind and I want him so bad, but I’m waiting until the wedding.”

“Billie Joe sounds more like attempted rape. No, two people learning how to please each other because you love and appreciate them is a whole different thing. I have heard you describe training horses. Aren’t horses a lot bigger and stronger and faster than you? Why do they let a lit bit of fluff like you tell them where to go?”

“Horses need to trust you, then they just run and turn mostly because they like to.”

“Learn about your man, let him know he can trust you, and just let him run. You’ll still be able to turn him, JB needs trust, he holds his fears deep. Until he had time to work out at the farm for a year or so, I thought he was full of anger. I have listened and learned; he is full of hurt. Mount your stallion and ride his hurt out”

“I like the thought of that. JB is fine stallion he needs me to assure him he can trust me.”

“Another thing I learned from your going on about training horses is they need to be exercised regularly. It is the same with men.”

Ruth grinned, “Carol exercise is good for the rider and the horse, or stallion”- Ruth let out the cutest giggle.






Photo RB Hunt