Generational Sins (34 page)

We spent the first evening watching our wedding video with Ellen. She cried. I cried. It was a terrible estrogen-fest. We decided that we probably would have an additional reception sometime in the future, so that the rest of the extended family could join in the wedding celebration. There was no hurry, but it was something to think about.

It turns out that Ellen had a wonderful, strong personality. I fell in love with her hour by hour. What a difference from the timid woman that I thought I knew. This woman was going to be an incredible mother-in-law, and I really looked forward to seeing her come into her own.

I went to bed early that night, before I was even tired. I was giving David and his mother some time alone. I thought that they needed it. Thankfully, David took the hint. He didn't come to bed until after 2:00 in the morning. To this day, I don't know what they talked about, but whatever it was, it made all the difference. There was a peace in the house the next morning that only comes from one thing–forgiveness. Whatever their transgressions, they had been aired, and the pardons had been made.

The struggle of the night had passed, and joy had come with the morning. A fresh snow had fallen, and the world was crisp, clean, and new. The bond forged between mother and son was strong and tangible. I watched the two of them interact over the next few days. I had never seen my husband spend so much time smiling. It was a privilege just to bear witness to it.

Ellen sold the house less than a month later and moved into a smaller place that was closer to us. It was really great having her near. She started a small business, selling antiques, to keep herself busy, and she was brilliant at it. I couldn't wait to finish our house and see what works of art she would come up with to furnish it.

David finished school in the spring and got a job in small hospital not far from where we were planning to build the new house. I kept teaching. He loved his work, and I loved mine, but we loved the time that we spent together even more. We frequented the ski chalet year round when we needed a break.

It wasn't always perfect, as life never is, but we took each day as it came and made the most of it.

Ms. Blair lives in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with her loving husband and two cats. Her writing slows every fall with the start of the Steelers season before making an amazing rebound shortly after the Super Bowl. She has a full time career as a marketing director and website designer, but in her spare time she can frequently be found writing for the shear joy of it.

She and her husband enjoy traveling, camping, down-hill snow skiing, and reading post-apocalyptic fiction together. Taking hikes and wilderness survival classes are among their typical bonding activities.

An avid reader, Samantha devours about 250 books a year from all genres and time periods. Her favorite authors include Stephen King, Fannie Flagg, Stephanie Meyer, and Henry David Thoreau.

Find out more at
www.samanthablair.com
or email
[email protected]
.