How In the World Did A Yves Saint Laurent Tuxedo End Up At The Brigham City Deseret Industries...?

 Yesterday my wife and I ran errands. We still have a million things to do to prepare for our daughter's wedding next month. On the way to pick up a clothes steamer of all things, we stopped at the Deseret Industries thrift store in Brigham City, Utah.

It's where we found a tuxedo.

Made by Yves Saint Laurent.

I tried on the jacket...it fit extremely well considering it was the only tuxedo in the store. I held up the pants at the side of my legs and they looked to be the right length. Neither of us could believe it was a YSL tux. My wife asked how much it cost.

I said, "Thirty bucks."

"We're buying it," she said--no hesitation.

When we find something at a thrift store (or a yard sale...) that might be worth something, we come home a do an internet search so see if we've scored a great deal. This time, it's hard to say if it was a good deal or an incredibly amazing deal. If you search for Yves Saint Laurent tuxedo, the jacket can cost between $3400 and $4500. The pants will set you back $1350. I know this thing isn't worth that, but, well...if it is worth something close to that, how in the world did it get there? Who donated it? Where did they get it?

Another mystery is the only tag in the garments. It says, "Ancient Thai Silk Co., LTD. 100% Thai Silk." I thought the entire suit was silk, but I think it's wool with silk linings. I could be wrong--I've never owned a silk suit before.

So, we bought a suit that came with unanswered questions. There's someone out there who knows the answers to these questions. The questions make the whole experience more fun.

Cluttered...But With A Purpose

We're less than five weeks out from a big day for our family. Our daughter will be getting married which, in our case, requires a lot of self-created set up. 

Translation...

There's a lot of stuff at our house.

It's been stressful ordering things, putting things together, deciding what looks good and what looks better, and envisioning the final effect. But, it's also fun and exciting. We've worked with our daughter and future son-in-law over all the details we can think of. They've been great in compromising when needed. Like all families, we can't do everything we'd like.

Our house has become part assembly line, part warehouse as things come in and depending on whether or not they need an upgrade, they are processed, boxed, then moved to the holding area where they will be unboxed at the appropriate time. 

A few weeks ago we had the most clutter, but as time ticks on and we get closer to the big day, we've been able to clear things out. The storage area is becoming cluttered, which has freed up our living quarters.

We're planning on having a huge yard sale once the wedding has become a memory. It's going to be massive. No doubt I'll spread the word on this blog and if you're in the area, we'd love to have you stop by and check out all the clutter. Until then, got to keep going. It's going to be great.

Going To Build A Wedding Arch...Never Made One Before

 There are things in life that when you go through them, you forget stuff. For example, whenever we brought home a new baby, I remembered certain things. I remembered the feedings, the changing of diapers, but what I always forgot was how much sleep we did not get.

It always slipped my mind, until, of course, from the day we brought them home, I remembered sleep would be a much coveted commodity. 

In our family, we're preparing for a wedding. I've forgotten just how much there is to do to properly prepare for a wedding. Truth be told, we don't have a lot of experience planning weddings. There was the the wedding of my wife and I, but that occurred more than three decades ago. Then, a few years ago our oldest son got married.

Preparing for a wedding as the groom's parents is much different than preparing for a wedding as the bride's parents...

A world of difference.

My daughter wants a wedding arch...not an unusual or extravagant request. We could rent one or buy one, but both options would cost more than if we just built our own. We priced lumber at our local hardware store, did a little math, and we're going to do it. 

I think it'll be a fun project. We need input from the daughter, naturally, to make it like she wants it, or at least like she wants it with our budget.

Building a wedding arch...rest assured, I won't forget doing in the future.

Still Beautiful, Even After Three Weeks...Only An Eternity To Go

 Three weeks tomorrow...

That's how long it's been since our daughter got engaged and how long we've had these beautiful flowers brightening up our somewhat slightly cluttered home. The flowers are wilting...the blue roses fairing better than their red counterparts (we think the blue dye helped in their preservation...). This afternoon it was time to discard the bouquet before pedals started to fall.

Though fading, they were still beautiful.

What if, they stayed in their original pristine state forever.

Of course, that's not possible...all things in this life are doomed to their own destruction. Everything created must expire, everyone born must die. 

A rose is many things, a living flower, a part of several ecosystems, but it's also a symbol, and as a symbol it becomes whatever we attach to it. These particular flowers represent a friendship more than a decade long that's blossomed into something even more beautiful, and like almost all relationships, has the potential to last an eternity.

I took the flowers outside to the trash that, unless society completely breaks down, will be picked up tomorrow morning. I snapped a picture...just wanted to remember them. Looking at the photo it made me think that the newly engaged couple's future will hopefully last longer than any flower, any plant, any thing that now exists.

Nothing on earth lasts forever, but things not of this earth, can.

Preparing For A Wedding...A First For Us

 Those crazy kids are getting married tomorrow--you just can't stop 'em.

I haven't been involved in many weddings in my life. Probably more than most, but considering I live in a world where a lot of people get married (or used to, anyway...), I haven't been involved in many weddings. I missed both my brother's wedding and my sister's first wedding--attended her second, though. And, I've never been a "Best Man" at a wedding, either.

I did attend my own wedding. That's about all the first-hand knowledge of a wedding.

That all changes tomorrow.

Tonight we met up with my future in-laws and we prepped the area. Our final act was to drive to Logan to pick up Tiki torches and citronella fuel. Can't allow some pesky bugs to disrupt things.

I've been watching my son the past couple of days, especially tonight. The kid's a cool as a cucumber. I have no idea if he's rattled or not. If so, he's not showing it. I can't remember how I was the night before my wedding, it's been over twenty-eight years ago. I'm sure I was nervous, and excited, and most likely wanting the whole thing to be over.

By this time tomorrow night, the happy couple will be married. A party will have commenced, and things will most likely be winding down.

In just one short day...