Other people

When we got married more than 3 years ago we made a discovery about the world that we didn't expect to make around the time of our wedding....other people are SO generous. Maybe more to the point was that we had spent our generosity very close to home (like on ourselves!) rather than being well tuned in to the people around us. Unto that point I had developed a policy of drinking at wedding receptions to the $ value of my wedding gift. It's true. FYI, if you invited me to your wedding after a glass or two I usually retired from my drinking challenge due to overwhelming weariness!

So again, we are embarrassed and challenged by our self-centredness as cards and gifts pour into our letter box and walk through the door for Angus. It goes beyond an etiquette or politeness but a genuine generosity that would have to be sacrificial - people choosing to share rather than save/spend for themselves.

The learning curve at this time for us is not just about settling techniques and treating rashes. Just like at our wedding we are challenged to join the throng of people who've learnt that celebration of life events is more than saying 'hip hip hooray' and raising a glass.