Institutionalized: 1940

Four Years After Leaving The Wedding Planner

It has been four years since Greg and I left the institution in England. I have been in Canada for three and a half years. I enjoy every day.

Greg and I have to start to organize our wedding because it is a little over five months away. I need to remember where I put our initial plans we had done in 1946. I just remembered that I put our wedding notes in my hope chest. Once I knew where our wedding notes were, I went upstairs to get them. I have our wedding notes from years ago. Greg and I reviewed our guest list. We decided to write our invitations to our wedding right away because our guests need to have enough notice to respond. Before Dario left for Quebec after his birthday celebration, he gave us where he, Patrick, and Tony were staying. I also have to mail an invitation to my mum in England. She would not want to miss her only daughter getting married. We mailed the overseas invitation before mailing the ones to Quebec and the rest of Greg's family. We decided to have a simple service because we do not want to give any attention towards us.

I asked Greg if he wanted to wear his RCAF uniform instead of a tuxedo. He said he would. His uniform still fits him after being institutionalized and the tree and a half years since returning home. Now, I have to get my dress ready. I am impressed that Greg's uniform still fits him because it has been nine years since he wore it. I told him he looked handsome in it and people will have a greater respect for him when he wears it. He is considered a veteran now.

Back to planning our wedding, I have to ask Ric to drive me to a dress shop to get a wedding dress. I hope I can find a baby blue dress because I look better in blue then white and baby blue is the colour of the wedding. I just asked Ric to drive me to a dress shop. He told me that it would be no problem. When I was leaving to go get a dress, Greg asked to come, but I told him that he was not supposed to see my dress until the wedding. Greg agreed because it was the traditional thing to do.

At the dress shop, picking a wedding dress, Ric was with me because I did not want to go in alone plus he has to drive me home once I got my perfect wedding dress. There were lots to choose from. There was one dress that caught my eye. It was a simple baby blue dress with sequence on the collar. I am a short woman, so simple is best. I think Greg will think I am more beautiful when I wear it on our wedding day. After I bought the dress, Ric drove me home.

Once at home, I had to put the dress somewhere Greg would not find it because I know his curiosity will come the best of him and he would want to see what the dress dress looks like.

Now, Greg and I need to decide if our wedding will be done in a church or the backyard of his home. I am not religious, but I want to know what Greg's position. He decided that the wedding ceremony will be done in the backyard because it will be easier on us and our guests

I had thought I should ask Dario if he can wear his kilt to the wedding. I will write him a letter tomorrow. I will mail the letter the next day after I write the letter tomorrow. I feel strange asking Dario, but I like men in kilts for special occasions.

The wedding is in three months. Our guest list is getting filled with accepted invitations even my mum can be with me on my special day. I am excited to see her again. It has been a long time since I left England Four years ago. I have stayed in contact with her through letters. It will be nice to be in her arms again and to hear her voice.

Most of our guests are Greg's family because I only have my mum. Everyone else in my family has rejected me. Plus we have our friends that we met along the way.

While planning the wedding, I received a letter from someone I was not expecting. I received a letter from Leah. She said in the letter that she wrote to my mum and my mum gave her my address in Canada. Leah was saying that her and her mum will be coming to British Columbia as a change of scenery and to get away from England. She said she will be coming the end of September. She said she will be staying until the end of November. It made me think. Maybe I could send her an invitation to the wedding. I asked Greg and he said I should. I sent the last wedding invitation this morning. I know I side tracked away from the planning of the wedding. It was good news.

Anyway, back to the wedding plans. I think I will write something for Greg expressing my love to him. How to start is the question. This is what I have written so far. Greg, I knew the first time I saw you, you were the man for me. I helped you see what love really is. You have helped me in times for great sorrow and the low points in my life. Thank you for being there when I needed you the most. Thank you for being my protector forever and always. After writing this, it made me think that Greg might be thinking of writing his vows to me as well.

The wedding day is fast approaching. I am getting excited, but nervous as well. I am most afraid of being in front of a lot of people reading my vows to Greg.

The wedding is in four weeks. Leah and her mum are in Toronto and on their way here in a couple of days. My mum will arrive in Toronto in one week. I cannot wait to see the two of them. Also meet Leah's mum.

A couple of days have passed. Leah and her mum have arrived, but I will not see them until my wedding.

A few days have passed since Leah has arrived. Now, my turn to see my mum. Ric went to pick her up from the train station in Vancouver.

Once Ric arrived with my mum, I ran to the door and hugged her. She told me that I looked healthier now, then when I first reunited with her once the war ended. Now, the wedding is approaching fast it is only a few days away.