Excitement wasn't enough. On Monday morning， my world crumbled—when the local sewing shop informed me the dress simply could not be altered because of numerous hand-sewn pearls and sequins on the bodice. I called the boutique for suggestions but only got their answering machine.
A friend gave me the number of a lady across town who worked at home doing alterations.I was desperate and willing to try anything， so I decided to give her a call.
When I arrived at her modest white house on the outskirts of town， she carefully inspected my dress and asked me to try it on. She put a handful of pins into the shoulders and sides of my gown and told me to pick it up in two days. She was the answer to my prayers.
When the time came to pick it up， however， I grew skeptical. How could I have been so foolish as to just leave a $1 200 wedding dress in the hands of someone I barely knew？ What if she made a mess out of it？ I had no idea if she could even sew on a button.
Thank goodness my fears were all for naught. The dress still looked exactly the same， but it now fit as if it had been made especially for me. I thanked the cheerful lady and paid her modest fee.
One small problem solved just in time for a bigger one to emerge. On Valentine's Day， my fiance called.
"Sandy， I've come to the decision that I'm not ready to get married，" he announced， none too gently， "I want to travel and experience life for a few years before settling down."
He apologized for the inconvenience of leaving all the wedding cancellations to me and then quickly left town. My world turned upside down. I was angry and heartbroken and had no idea how to recover. But days flew into weeks and weeks blended into months. I survived.
One day in the fall of the same year， while standing in line at the supermarket， I heard someone calling my name. I turned around to see the alterations lady. She politely inquired about my wedding， and was shocked to discover it had been called off， but agreed it was probably for the best.