Exactly a week ago today, my brother married the woman he refers to as his best friend and I couldn’t have been more proud of him.
There is something so special about seeing someone become the person you know they can be even if they are older than you.
This particular brother and I have always been close. When everybody moved out of my aunt’s house, it was just me and him. When I was going away for college, he was the one who gave me “the talk” saying that freshmen equals fresh meat. I took that to heart.
My very idea of what it means to be a man is because of knowing him. He taught me what I should and shouldn’t allow from a man and I will always be grateful for that.
Don’t get me wrong, there were times when he wasn’t practicing what he was preaching, which I hinted at during my tear-filled speech, but it’s nice to know he finally got it together. Needless to say, knowing that he was about get married was an emotional experience.
As the bridesmaids and I got ready for the ceremony, I tried my best not to think about what was about to happen. I busied myself taking a million pictures for the couple because “I just wanted the moment.”
Focusing on what was directly in front of me helped me to, well, stay focus and not cry like I always do. A couple times, the bride caught me choking up saying “Yaszy, you are not about to cry, right?” Nope.
That didn’t last very long.
I contained it right up to the moment when the officiant told my brother he could turn around to see his bride. He took a deep breath, turned around and you could almost see his breath being taken away.
I will always remember that moment.
We partied hard at the reception carefully watching as the Jamaican entertainers performed.
My brother did what he does best, dance. All night.
And we ended the night on the beach sending up wishes with the lighting of paper lanterns.
It was so beautiful.
