Happy Days Are Here Again.

Rebecca and Justin were married at the church in the cultural hall last Saturday. They were so Happy! Rebecca's dad Steve was happy. Her siblings were happy. Steves new wife was happy. I was happy. Let me explain.

Twelve years ago my best buddy Steve found out his wife had cancer, a serious form of it had struck her in the form of a brain tumor. Rebecca was 7. The tumor took it's toll over the years reducing Catherine's ability to play her beloved violin and enjoy activity with her family. She was bed ridden the last year. Steve was constant and like a rock. He took care of her and the kids all the way to Catherine's death. for 12 years he raised his family virtually alone as a single dad and caregiver. Completely unselfish. You can imagine the hardship, and the loneliness at times.

Steve needed to be married after Catherine's death. Thats what he told me. He didn't want to be alone, "I'm no good alone" he would say. " I need someone to take care of and to take care of me." He started looking on the internet for a good woman while I played general contractor and completely remodeled his home. Fixing everything that needed it. New driveway and roof, new bathrooms and tile. New french doors going to the back deck. New paint everywhere. You get the picture. A total transformation of the abode. This took place while his oldest child was serving a mission in Mexico. The same place his mom had gone years earlier. Steve then met a woman in Arizona on the internet who will remain nameless. After 9 months of a long distance relationship it didn't work out. 

Then just a few days after the brake up with Arizona woman Steve asks Tina out for a date. A woman from our congregation at church. A couple of weeks later they are engaged and a month later married in the Boston Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints. Amazing! What makes it more amazing is that his oldest comes home for his mission and gets married in a whirlwind just a few months before. Now Rebecca, three marriages in less than a year in one family. The dad the son and now the daughter. 

Justin walked into the store where Rebecca worked, saw her and fell immediately in love. It gets better, he then went to church with the family and was converted to the beliefs of the Mormon church and was baptized. Rebecca loves animation he loves animation, he likes fantasy sci-fi so does she. His parents thought he would never find someone who would like what he did. They were wrong.

So the story ends with a happy family, sorrows in the past with a bright future ahead. Catherine would be happy.