My husband and I recently  RSVP’d  for his younger cousin’s wedding – to  another  man. Gay marriage has only  been  legal  in  my  state (Michigan) since June, 2015 following the Obergefell Vs. Hodges Supreme  Court  ruling.

Their  wedding will be held  at a prominent  microbrewery/brewpub in a college town and we’re  both kind of excited  about this! Strange, considering  we were  left off the guest list for a couple  of  his other  family  members’ weddings  in the past several  years and felt  as though  we’d  dodged bullets! Great, we don’t  have  to  fork over money  for a gift – and buy  something  “nice” to wear.

This time? We think  it’s  great that we were invited! Mike speculates  that a big part of the reason  we’re  on the guest list is because of something  I did a few years  ago  at  this  cousin’s  twin brother’s  wedding (he has a fraternal  twin  brother  whom was married in October, 2016).

So what did I do at his brother’s  wedding? I took a photo. I could  clearly see that Mike’s gay cousin  was at the wedding  with his  male date, but  they  were both being “discreet” about it when I was taking photos. His cousin’s  boyfriend was trying to stay out of the photos, and well? I just HAD to be me!

“Can I have both of you guys in this photo?” They gave each other a surprised “look,” but were  all too pleased  to oblige. Later, I made sure it was OK to share the photos on Facebook, and they gave me the thumbs-up. I had a little “background,” in that I’d  seen these two  together  in Facebook  photos.

Truth be told? Mike and I always knew this cousin was gay. He is the youngest of three  brothers, and I got to watch all of these boys  grow up into handsome, funny, smart young  men. Because of the age difference, Mike and I always seemed more like an aunt/uncle to them  than cousins. His two brothers couldn’t  be more typical “boys,” with both of them loving the outdoors, fishing, hunting etc. – and helping their dad work on tractors and cars. Their youngest  brother was always the “odd one out.” More interested  in books and quiet reflection  than the more “rugged” activities of his older brothers. When he talked about going on a trip  to Chicago with  his mom to watch Wicked  on stage? I knew…I just  knew!

And you know what? I love all of those “boys” as though  they were my own blood relatives. I look  forward  to seeing  them all at this wedding!

I know not everyone  is on board with the idea of gay marriage.  Some family members were probably excluded from the wedding guest list for this very reason (like my churchy, conservative  sister-in-law and all 9 of her kids). But  I know two people in love when I see them – and I am happy  we get to be a part of their special day! In a place that makes fantastic  beer (I’ll  drink  to  that)!

Back to the blog subject – what do I wear? Whatever  I choose, it’s  going  to  be very…colorful!