The Professional

Yesterday, my daughter Ellie was in her 4th wedding as a flower girl. (This picture is actually from a wedding two years ago.) This marks her as a professional in my book. However she is turning 6 in less than two weeks, and her standing as top notch professional may be coming to an end. Just like a world class gymnast entering her early twenties, she likely has peaked. She still will be good at her job if asked again, but the oohs and aahs and smiles that a 3 to 5 year old preschooler gets, may begin to lose its luster as she "ages". Sadly as a result, I think she has finished this career and may be entering a new field - Junior Bridesmaid. This is still an honorable job, but instead of being Batman's (the bride's) Robin, she will now be more like the chauffer (Alfred). A flower girl is a necessity in any good procession before a wedding. A junior bridesmaid helps get the bride to the promised land, but honestly, the rest of the bridesmaids can do that. A junior bridesmaid is simply too old to be a flower girl but too young to be an official bridesmaid. She can't go on any "real" bachelorette parties.

So in conclusion, yesterday was a somber yet wonderful celebration as the final? wedding as a flower girl for Ellie. She looked beautiful and didn't let the obvious emotions she must have been feeling get in the way of her duties. She was a professional.