Maggie's Farm Current Events: Towning/Miller Wedding

Today Maggie was pleased to do the floral work for the wedding of Joanna Clare Towning to Robert Michael Miller, III.

I'm personally grateful that Maggie had the opportunity to be involved.

As I listened to the news this week about athletes running afoul of the law, generals covering up friendly fire incidents and drunk astronauts going into outer space, it occurred to me that there are no heroes anymore. Who's left? Who do we look to to remind us that there's still hope - that there's still goodness and decency in the world?
It was fortuitous that I knocked on a door to get a business card from this week's wedding photographer and recognized the groom.

On the far right in the image above is your groom, Robert Michael Miller, III. "Mike", as I've known him, is a nurse. About eighteen months ago, I was in a bad spot. My father was in the hospital for the fifth time in a year and my mother was in need of a level of care that my sister and I were unqualified to provide and unable to sustain even if we we could. I was suddenly confronted with the necessity of making new living arrangements for the people who had given and done so much for me all of my life. Nothing matters more than family so nothing matters more than the people providing care for the people you love - and while you appreciate every one's efforts, a few are naturally going to stand out. Michael stood out.

Michael never failed to demonstrate the kindness to work effectively with a woman who was disoriented, frustrated and sometimes angry and combative. He instinctively showed the compassion that gave comfort to a successful military officer and businessman without injuring his dignity. I felt better about my parents when Michael was working with them.

My parents are doing well now. Dad is driving and self-sufficient and Mom is doing as well as she can. Michael has moved on from that facility. But I am so grateful that he was there for that critical transition period. I didn't ask where he had gone. Wherever it is, they got a good man.

I had to make sure I got a shot of Michael to show my Dad and Dad was excited for him. At least in that small way he is able to share the event with someone who had shown so much kindness to him and my mom.

I fret for the world we live in sometimes...OK, often. People make good livings by being confrontational. An "In your face" attitude is considered a virtue. We celebrate people who "tell it like it is" with little regard for whether what they're telling bears any resemblence to reality. It seems like folks want the instant intimacy of a label so they can know whether to shake your hand or throw rocks at you.

Michael is the antithesis of all that. Michael is kindness, decency and compassion. He was a hero for the people I care about when they needed it so much. He's a hero to me. It was good to run to him today. It's important to see and remember what's good and right in the world.

I do that a little bit every morning when I wake up next to the woman I love. I wish the same and more for Joanna and Michael.

The very top photo in this post was of the bridal bouquet. The image above is of a bridesmaid's bouquet and a mother's nosegay.