Welcome to Mimosa Monday! A weekly instalment of celebrating life, love and things I’m grateful for ❤️
Welcome to our first “MM” post!
This weekend was Victoria Day weekend, a long weekend in Canada more commonly known as May 2-4(two-four). An American friend and ex-coworker of mine once told me it was the Canadian’s “Another Excuse to Drink” holiday. Lincoln, you’re not to far off! Which is why I chose today to launch our first Mimosa Monday.
While I would love to keep MM posts positive and light I need to start out by saying that his weekend didn’t start off so awesome.
My husband lost a friend in a motorcycle accident early Friday morning. His name was Mike. Adam worked with him for a number of years and always had such kind things to say about him. He told me years ago that he used to playfully badger Mike and say “when are you getting married?” “And hurry up and propose already!” One day Adam came home all excited because Mike had a plan and sure enough he proposed to Olivia in such a romantic way, after a long mountain bike ride on a cool forest trail, with with hot sweaty palms he popped the question. I remember Adam saying Mike even had a placebo diamond – just in case he messed up somehow.
We went to their wedding just last July. Olivia made the most beautiful bride I have ever seen, and Mike beamed with pride all day. We learned that they had known eachother their whole lives; which was more then obvious. You could see they were best friends. Their parents were friends, living on the street behind, with yards that backed onto each other. I am pretty sure that Adam and I wrote something like “It’s about time” on a Jenga block, their fabulous alternative for a guest book. Mike cried at the reception; during and after speeches. It was so very touching, I will admit to shedding more than a few tears – and I didnt really even know these people. Some people just have it. They have hearts of gold and they wear them on their sleeves. Mike was one of those people.
M&O were just getting started in life. They had just gotten a puppy. Nothing prepared Olivia, or their family for this. No one saw this coming.
I was lucky enough to chat briefly with Steve, from Connie and Steve Photography, who were lucky enough to capture the love between Mike and Olivia… you can see their photos here. Thank you Connie and Steve. As a photographer I know the bittersweet honour and privelege it must be to capture these images….. some of the best memories a family can have.
Rest in Peace Mike.
With tears in my eyes, I will raise my glass to Mike, and to life.
Life is worth celebrating every day.
Hug your family a little tighter, pick up the phone and call you Mom. Tell someone what they mean to you. Be present in life, in your relationships.
Find your thing worth celebrating and make a toast.Cheers,
Jen