All Grown Up

In spite of me bearing witness (with my camera in tow) to the transformation of the past few days (hair, make up and so on) when she put on that dress, the young woman in front of me took me by surprise. 

Of course we were running late and when she came down the stairs all the family and friends who had come to wish her well, swarmed around with camera lights flashing. She looked as overwhelmed as I felt. All I wanted to do was to freeze the moment and allow flashbacks of her taking her first tentative steps or her first day at school or even that picture after she lost her front teeth, to roll before my eyes. All too soon she was off to the pre-party and from there to school, where the dance was being held.

True to the unpretentious school tradition, the matriculants arrived to cheering and clapping on bikes with sidecars, vintage cars, on boats (yes, being skilfully steered by a jeep from behind) and in our yellow beetle decorated to look like a bug, complete with black spots and eyes. The parents were allowed a peek into the "Night in Venice" hall and then it was time to say goodbye. Time to hand her over to her partner, time to let go for the first all-nighter to come, time to trust that she would have fun and be safe.

sneak preview

So here we are the day after - we have survived the matric dance, the pre- and post-parties and life can go back to normal. We have moved onto a new stage, the 18th birthday looms as does the driving test and then, before we know it, final exams. I am steadfast in my resolve that it would be best to send me a "Just Married" postcard.

Send me a Postcard

Having survived a traditional wedding, I have always joked with my daughter that perhaps she should get married in Paris and send me a "Just Married" postcard! Right now, I am feeling even more convinced that that is the way to go. We have just had the make-up trial, yesterday was the visit to the hairdresser to discuss the style for the day and the dress, shoes and accessories have been shopped for. We have made the appointments for facial, manicure and pedicure and just now discussed who should be invited for tea. She keeps checking how my photography course is going, with, I suspect, less than pure motives.

No, this is not the wedding we are planning, but the matric dance. It seems that there is nothing else to talk or think about. All I can say is, thank goodness that it is happening now and not towards the end of the year when exams which will determine futures, have to be written. During the holidays she went out for a bite to eat with two girlfriends. They couldn't decide where to go. It turned out that the dilemma was that one of the girls was on a pre-matric-dance juice diet. Then there is setting up friends with partners for the night - and this is more than a "bring-your-brother-or-cousin" affair. A number of coffee dates have been organised for a friend who has still not decided. 

These days it is common to have the family and friends round for drinks to see the belle off to the ball. Seems we are having tea at 15h00 pm fit in with the pre-pre-dance routine. That plus the after-parties and recovery time, seems to be adding up to a weekend of it. I have been reminded that this is a once in a lifetime occasion - I am glad. Elopement still seems very attractive.