By Susan Dromey Heeter
Joyful Musings
Last weekend I spent five dollars at a yard sale on a set of wedding cake pans. There are four, they are oval and created to place one on top of another. I am not much of a baker but was entirely entranced by the possibility of making a very large cake.
Susan Dromey Heeter
Perhaps I will create a wedding cake, perhaps just a tiered, magnificent concoction. At this moment, I’m not sure. Today I muse joyfully on wedding cakes as well as weddings themselves, the possibilities of cake pans and fresh unions of love – of one another, of chocolate, of celebrations.
I love weddings. I’ve only ever organized one – my own, but do appreciate all the thrill and excitement behind the big day. I could watch Say Yes to the Dress for hours – and though I bought my own wedding dress from an army catalog – there really were army boots on the opposite page – I delight in the beauty and freshness of brides, of grooms, of love.
I bought the wedding cake pans with the idea that – hey – how hard can it be to make something like they do on Cake Boss? Wedding cakes must be a breeze.
And I delight in people who’ve had more than one wedding, walked down the aisle not just once but, perhaps, several times. And while I do not minimize divorce, can appreciate the heartbreak and sorrow of loss and break ups, I do celebrate and muse joyfully on those who’ve risked it all again and again.
Earlier this week I read the Irish Sports Page, the obituaries, and read of a man who departed this world after a very full life. My favorite part of his obit were the words, “He loved his three children and he loved his three wives.” I delighted in that, not ever knowing this gentleman, but appreciating that, while it sounds like two of his three unions did not work out in the traditional sense, there was still love. “He loved his three children and loved his three wives.”
That’s a great obituary.
And I wonder what each wedding was like. Did he keep the rings?
Several people I know have many “wasbands” and ex-wives. When I asked one friend why he took several tries at tying the knot he responded, “I just love weddings.” Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.
And I just love cake – which is why I’ll try to make a stellar stacked creation of chocolate and vanilla and a myriad of colors. And, undoubtedly, this creation will not come out so beautifully on the first try – which, is why I’ll have to keep at it.
May you muse joyfully on trying again and again in your endeavors – whether they be walks down the aisle or creating a cake.
Whatever it is, may we all learn from our successes, our errors, and especially our attempts at even trying in the first place.
Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white, writes “Joyful Musings” for InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters. Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst. Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.