WEDDING BRAIN

What is it about being engaged that disengages the brain? I watched it happen to my student employees for years and it drove me crazy. Only one out of sixty of them was able to keep it together and do her job while she was engaged. The rest turned into puddles of useless human tissue and cells that sometimes would and sometimes would not show up for their appointed shifts during the engagement/wedding period. And let’s not even talk about a hope of getting actual work out of them. That was simply beyond any realistic expectation. It seemed like the moment their intended put the ring on their finger their brain turned to mush. That’s all I’m saying. Well, actually that’s not all—theres’ more. These were smart, intelligent women—good employees—great employees—until someone said the magic words—no, not “please”, “Will you marry me?” In some of the cases, the melt down was bad enough I’m surprised their brain lasted long enough to say “Yes”.

As I said, it used to drive me crazy—that is until it happened to me. Yes, you heard me. Stop laughing. I even married late. I had no excuse. I had watched this over and over for twenty years and sworn it did not have to be this way. But then it happened. Ring on my finger—brain out the door. Yep. All I can say is I had a great assistant, good friends and wonderful family or my wedding would not have happened. I don’t know how I got it planned. Well, I do. It was with their help. But, I do know—I could not get to work on time. I could not focus on meetings or assignments until they were due. I could not even manage to make complete wedding decisions by myself. I was a mess. The only thing I could think of was HIM.

This brings me to today. Daughter #2 (hereafter referred to as D2) is getting married. She has wedding brain. Some days it drives me nuts, other days I am able to roll with the flow and laugh it off. Yesterday she went took her veil to a scheduled hair appointment with hair stylist who is also a friend from high school. They were going to play around with several styles until they came up with one D2 liked that she could use for her wedding and bridals. She left home about 4:30. Her Dad and I were waiting and waiting and waiting to see the finished result. It was getting to be later—about 7:00 p.m and no sign of her so we went and ran some errands. We figured they were still trying different styles. We get back by 7:45 p.m. but still no sign of D2. We keep waiting. 8:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m. We don’t want to interrupt the stylist’s work. 9:30 p.m. Finally, I pick up the phone and call D2’s cell phone.

Me: “So, are you still trying different styles?”
D2:“Um, no. I’m actually at fiancé boy’s house” (40 minutes away, mind you)
Me: Did you realize Dad and I were waiting to see your hair?
D2: Um, no, I guess I didn’t think you’d be waiting to see it.

Anyway, the conversation went on—but it was obvious she wasn’t coming home soon and we weren’t going to get to see her hair. Seems to me there was a way we ALL could have seen the hair but darned if that wedding brain didn’t have a good hold on her. We went to bed. Guess we’ll see it at the wedding.