When a childhood friend gets married… Utmost happy and sad

Photo Ani Babayan

“As to marriage or celibacy, let a man take which course he will, he will be sure to repent (Socrates).” In my case — it’s the second, in case of most of my friends — it’s the first, although they have found such good and caring better-halves that I doubt they will ever regret being “chained” by marriage.

Last time a close friend of mine married was two-three years ago, but I didn’t take it this close to my heart. Perhaps that’s the difference between the marriages of childhood friends and friends made over the years. It doesn’t mean that the rest of friends are less important, but imagine this — since 4-5 years you have been together, running, playing, infecting in literal (flu :D) and figurative (high spirits) senses, having the traditional evening and Sunday teas, arguing on various topics, and fighting. The marriage of a childhood friend becomes more heart-breaking especially when she’s is the friend next door, when you know that a knock at the door and you will find her… Around 14 days have passed since she “left” me and I still can’t cope with her absence…

Now about the happy 😀 — How it all started? To start with, my closest childhood friend married a very close friend of mine. Did I ever think they would be together? No, never. Perhaps that is the reason why when he asked me to “recommend” him one of my friends (already having in his mind this particular friend of mine), I named almost all and said “not she, because she is too young.” and I remember his “shocked” face and his eyes. She is my youngest friend (by youngest I mean two-three years of age difference between us), but on June 1, I saw this youngest friend get married — they both matured enough to take this serious step in their lives.

I was the matchmaker in this beautiful love story. I cannot forget that they celebrated their first love anniversary with me, that they waited for me to return to Armenia to get engaged and I cannot get oblivious of the special thanks and words of gratitude I received on their wedding. “All this would not take place without you” — these words still ring in my ears and make me so happy. It’s so good to feel appreciation and I guess it’s another reason why in the end I gave up and not being able to hold back the tears, I sat there crying, although I had promised myself to be strong :).

The wedding was much fun. My childhood friend was like a swan. She was so beautiful and so happy. She was shining and radiating bliss, which made her even more charming and enchanting. You don’t see such beautiful brides every day…

Photo Ani Babayan

June 1 will be engraved in my memory as one of the happiest days of my life — the loving hearts of my closest friends officially joined and marked the beginning of a most stunning family, which will [hopefully] very soon be enriched with their little angels making not only their life more worthwhile, but also mine — someone who might never be able to feel the delight of motherhood; at least, I hope my sisters and friends will secure a splendid “aunthood” for me. 🙂 As for now, let the journey my dearest friends have started together be filled with love, happiness, health, adventures, care, respect and all the good things that I sought but never found in my failed relationship.

“It was love at first sight, at last sight, at ever and ever sight” (Vladmir Sirin) — and let this love last beyond forever…