Charleston, SC

When I met him I knew I wanted to get married in Charleston, South Carolina ... not only b/c that's where he's from but b/c there's a beach there.

I imagined my chocolate skin against an eggshell (notice I didn't say pure white) off the shoulder dress with an A-line cut ... a pretty yellow flower behind my ear ... my hair even shorter than it is now ... no shoes ... and a bouquet of flowers.

I imagined his beautifully tanned skin (cause I don't know what color it would be under the sun) against an eggshell suit ... with a hint of rust orange and yellow ... his head clean shaved ... no shoes.

I imagined something small and intimate on the beach ... my family and his ... a couple of close friends ... in chairs draped in white linen ... rust orange and yellow arrangements decorating the back of the chairs.

I imagined my younger brother or my favorite uncle walking me down the aisle. I imagined I would tear up as I saw him and his son (dressed like his dad) ... but would stifle my tears to keep from messing up my make-up. I imagined his eyes would pierce through my skin ... seeing the depths of my soul ... as he always had.

I imagined standing before him, God, the preacher, and our guests verbalizing with an exclamation point the love I'd had for him since day one ... the love I would continue to have for him ... for eternity. I know I would say something about marrying him and his son ... because they are a packaged deal ... can't have one without the other. I imagined him speaking his vows ... kissing my hands ... caressing my face ... catching the flower behind my ear before it blew away. I imagined him saying he waited all his life for this day ... and knowing that he meant it. I imagined the preacher saying: 'I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Such and Such'.

And I imagined our reception being a home cooked function ... crabs, lobsters, steak, chicken (cause I don't DO seafood), and other things. I imagined our first dance ... us holding each other as we moved to Luther Vandross' 'Love is So Amazing'.

I imagined living my life happily with him ... growing ... learning ... building ... and loving more each day.

My how that dream was so long ago. I wonder if the images will replay and become reality.