My Goal Kept Me Going

I could easily have given up. It would have taken very little to throw in the towel and call it a day. But I didn’t – I’m a fighter and I wasn’t about to allow Parkinson’s to steal me away from my husband and the pleasure of being at our daughter’s wedding. We have one child and I was determined to walk with my husband by her side down the aisle. The wedding had been planned, invitations sent, hall and catering booked, and as the date drew closer, making it through each day and night was getting harder and harder. There were three months till the big day, and although this sounds like a short time, in my condition, it felt like an eternity. It took all my energy and strength as I struggled and fought constantly staying totally focused on my goal.

Being “mother of the bride” it was obvious I would need a new dress, and not just any dress. It would have to be elegant enough befitting the mother of the bride. How on earth in such poor shape was I going to manage dress shopping, going from shop to shop, expending huge amounts of precious energy undressing and trying on dresses? Just the thought of searching for the perfect dress threw me into a spin. This is where men most definitely have the upper hand. Let’s face it, a suit is a suit, no matter what colour, or fabric. I think you’d be hard pushed to find someone saying, “Haven’t we seen him wearing that suit before?”

I have to say, my husband did look very handsome on the day and I humbly confess, he is a far better shopper than me, and knows exactly what he wants. He went shopping and in just one hour had purchased a lovely new grey suit, a tie and shoes. I am envious of his ability to effortlessly shop for clothes.

My darling daughter had clearly known for some time what she wanted, has excellent judgement and a very good eye for spotting what will suit her. Like most mothers, I had dreamt one day she and I would go together to choose her wedding gown, but I was seriously ill and much to my disappointment, I was unable to join her. On the big day she got ready at our house in her old bedroom and as she serenely glided down the stairs, my eyes welled up with tears of pride at the little girl who had blossomed into this amazing woman who stood before me. Looking beautiful in a full length, white, elegant dress, she was about to begin a new chapter in her life.