A Brooklyn Wedding

My most favorite picture, ever.

Seven or eight years ago my sister, who lives in Minnesota, knew a young woman who was moving to Georgia and wanted to introduce us to her as a potential babysitter for the kids. We loved her immediately. We called Kate our Summer Nanny even though she was less Nanny and more Family.

She introduced us to her girlfriend, Kirsten. We also loved her immediately. Both were young, energetic, smart, interesting women our family loved being around and when they weren’t working or in school full-time they babysat for us. On more than one occasion one or both traveled with us to an annual conference for the PKD Foundation. Back in the day when we used to get away for a weekend without the kids

here and there, we knew the kids were safe and Kate and Kirsten were showing the kids a good time. God bless them, they spent two days with our kids at Disney World (I mean IN DISNEY WORLD) in 2007 while we conferenced, oh yes they did.

One thing that is important to mention is that they came into our family when we were in turmoil and they’ve seen us through all of that in person or notes of support and love. In 2006, as Gage was getting sicker and closer to transplant while on dialysis, they saw us through Gage’s hardest days. Kate was one of the few people that could handle Gage and bring out the best in him and she did because she saw the best in him. Both Kate and Kirsten love the kids and they are special to the kids, even as the kids enter teenagehood (and you know teenagers don’t like anyone!).

It never occurred to us that they shouldn’t be together. We watched them move overseas and begin a new life in their careers in a new country (homeland for one) we watched them figure out how their lives would be and it was together. In the Summer of 2011 we were lucky enough to travel to Europe to see them (honestly, they let us disrupt their lives for 2 weeks while they put us up, clearly they are amazing). We loved being able to spend time with them again.

Not long after that trip they told us they had a date to get married. They didn’t say they were getting committed. They didn’t say they were having a civil union or commitment ceremony. They said they were getting married. Engagements followed and happy news they’d set a date for August 2012. Thrilled for them, we were going to make sure our family could swing the trip with money and time. We were not missing the chance to witness our friends getting married.

It’s something beautiful that happens all over the world. People get married. They love each other, they want to build a committed life together. As someone who also wanted those things and was lucky enough to find them with Julian, it’s inconceivable that people don’t want that same privilege for everyone, equally.

It was a lovely night in Brooklyn. I cried when they said their vows and kissed. You know why? Because our friends love each other and got married.

We watched Kate and Kirsten walk down the isle surrounded by family and friends on both sides of them, a mixture of siblings and friends from childhood and college and rugby playing days. We listened as they promised to support each other in the good times and bad times and in the dreams each of them had for their lives. Gage will tell you that Kate promised to cook Kirsten dinner every Thursday. We watched the brides smile and hold hands and we watched the people who love them smile and laugh and look at them with pure joy. We met their happy parents in the receiving line and saw their first dance. We watched them cut their Rice Krispie bar cake made by one of the brides’ sisters. We saw them hold hands and laugh and celebrate.

Oh, the bliss!

A beautiful day and beautiful brides in love and starting to build a life together. We feel pretty special that we got to witness their nuptials and celebration with all the people around them that want only the best for them. If only everyone could be so lucky to witness that every so often, we’d all be happier.

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Originally posted on Kidneys and Eyes, my personal blog, which is now closed down.