" When its over, i want to say: all my life
I was a bride married to amazement
I was a bridegroom, taking the world into my arms" Mary Oliver
When I was a wee girl all I
wanted to do was to live in Edinburgh when grew up. I lived in Fife then
and we would take the train for important back to school shopping trips
or Christmas and the like. The excitement would start as we crossed the
wonderful forth rail bridge and I would know as the we chugged past the
castle into Waverley station that city life was for me....but only this
city. Now even as an Edinburgher when I walk out of the station and see
the castle and the gardens I get a thrill of calling Edinburgh my home.
But
nothing could have prepared me for the absolute joy of seeing my son
get married to a wonderful woman on Saturday in the city chambers and
then walk through this marvellous city followed by three women fiddlers (
one carrying a baby). The mother of the bride was also playing guitar
and was followed by the three bridesmaids stunningly strutting their
stuff in gorgeous dresses and hot pink stilettos! Cobbles were no
barrier to them! Hundreds of tourist witnessed something magical and
every face we passed lit up with the evident joy on the faces of the
bride and groom. What better back drop than the royal mile to set off
from, our city provided a stunning backdrop to this marvelous display
of modern Scotland at its best. That walk symbolised for me the whole
wedding day and their relationship too, it was full of love, joy, music and
so much laughter. To say I shed a tear would be a slight understatement
and currently I have no voice! Every union should carry such love and
joy.
I gave a mother of
the bridegroom speech ( it was a hugely inclusive wedding) and touched
on this being one of the days I prayed for when I was first diagnosed
with breast cancer when my children were still young. I prayed I would
still be there to see them marry someone who loved them, that day came
on Saturday and it surpassed all my hopes. I couldn't be more grateful
to have been part of such a wonderful day.
Last
week I was nominated for selection to stand as an MSP in Edinburgh
Central, representing the very streets we walked through and the people
we walked by on this special day. This deepened my sense of honour at
the opportunity to give something back to this wonderful city that is my
home. And also I know my life experience has taught me to grab any
opportunity in life to make difference. I have been so very fortunate in
my life, I want those opportunities for everyone.
So
, confetti gone, heels firmly packed away, attention now back to being
selected to represent the guid folk of Edinburgh. Sleeves are rolled up!
