Flippy Floppy Twisty Turny Sippy Sappy Heart

Published on Friday, April 16, 2010 by Katherine

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This weekend will be an amazingly emotional, joyous, melancholy and gut wrenching weekend.  My heart and my mind will be twisted, turned and flippy floppied all over the place.  I am filled with so much joy, nervousness and anticipation that I can literally feel my heart in my throat as I write this post.  And the tears?  OH the TEARS.  All because I am one big fat Hallmark-style SAP.  And I wouldn’t change that for the world.

Tomorrow at 8:30 a.m., my youngest child – my only daughter – will be walking down the aisle in a white dress and veil for her First Holy Communion.  For those who aren’t Catholic, this is a huge HUGE deal.  And for me, an amazingly emotional one.  My children have laughed at me for years about this.  I see one little girl in her veil and dress and I am brought to tears as mocking laughter begins behind me.  How I will make it through this ceremony, I will never know.

One ceremony does not equate to a weekend though, does it?  So what comes next?  My boy is coming home to me.  For a few days, but still coming home.  To understand the situation, you need to read my post about saying goodbye to Vincent.

It’s been almost a year since I’ve seen Vincent.  And yes, he seems to be doing well in Connecticut.  I knew he would adjust, because he is strong and resilient.  My oldest son, not so much.  Since Vincent left, my boy has been distant, sad and has almost resisted making friends and hanging out with others from his school.  It’s broken my heart.  More than it broke when Vincent left last year.

But to our surprise, we found out this week that Vincent and his family will be visiting for his spring break.  AND HE IS STAYING WITH US UNTIL WEDNESDAY!  They are leaving TONIGHT at midnight, and should be arriving just before the First Communion ceremony.  I told him my car would be unlocked in the parking lot at church.  “Throw your stuff in there and come in to the church – we will have a spot for you!”

So picture this.  I’m sitting in the church, butterflies in my stomach as I wait for my daughter’s First Communion to start.  Just as the children are about to walk down the aisle, in walks Vincent – the other source of my butterflies.  Start the violins playing.  The emotion of seeing him, of my son having him back for a while, and of the ceremony about to take place – it’s just too much for this overly sentimental mother to handle.

It is very possible that Vincent doesn’t arrive on time, or chooses to go right to our house for a rest.  Either way, we get to have him all to ourselves for a few happy days.  I plan to spoil him rotten.  The boys have already given me the list.  “You have to make brownies, homemade bread and beef jerky.”  You got it.  Anything.  ANYTHING.

I’ll tweet when I can, in between smiles, sobs and a mother’s happy contentment.  Cross your fingers for me and pass me a Kleenex.  I’m gonna need a lot!

Does anything get YOU right in the gut?  A song you hear at weddings or funerals?  A ceremony, movie or book?  Or do you have a poker face that can outplay anyone during the heat of battle?