Gratitude listings

 
I will "bury the lede" and do the wedding last....

- Thank goodness for my sister-in-law Angie. OMG thank goodness for her!! Doris told me she was talking to Angie. Doris was feeling guilty at the idea of spending the entire weekend at wedding events when she hadn't been able to see her mom since she got home from rehab. Doris was thinking that she'd still do all the Saturday stuff but maybe hang with her mom on Friday, so not show up till Sat AM. Angie was like hell no, go to ALL the wedding events, this is once in a lifetime. Thank you, Angie!!

- My cat. She is so sweet. She missed me!!! When I got home on Sunday, she curled up on top of me on the sofa. Sunday night she got on top of me in bed and purred me to sleep. Which I desperately needed after 2 nights of hotel 'sleeping'. 

- Sachin has a new gig!! I know this because he did a Cameo for me and he said he had a goatee for something he's filming. YES!!

- Ever pick up a book and it is JUST what you needed? For me the book is Women Rowing North by Mary Pipher. It's like....wisdom from an Aunt, ideas and thoughts, appreciating life's goodness while acknowledging all of its badness. I just really needed/need that book, especially right when I started reading it.

- Monday was fun. The original plan was for me and Laurie to hit Lyman Woods and then have lunch at Bowl O'Biryani. We talked before I set out, she felt it was a bit too dreary for a forest preserve walk, and I was feeling a little sick anyway, so we did 'only' lunch. Loved it! Then as I was driving home, I decided to hit Lyman Woods anyway since I had a bit of an energy burst and I always loved Lyman Woods. (And it is near the restaurant but not that near to where I live). I thought the weather was fine and I LOVED my walk! I even got 'lost' for a minute or two but found my way back to where I needed to go.

- Also, something weird. A repeat of what happened earlier in October. I was sick for...a day. And then fine. Symptoms were the same. Reduced or no appetite, low energy, slight 'weirdness' in the chest and a runnier nose than usual. It  hit me late Sunday and stayed with me thru Monday. And now today, Tuesday, I am fine. I don't get it. Luck? Weird allergies? The world's shortest cold? Both times happened after a big, social day or days. Is that a factor??

So, what can I say about the wedding?? I LOVED IT! I nearly cried. It was beautiful. Ann and Rollin were beautiful. Their vows were beautiful. I loved their friends and family. Ann's stunning dress. The moment when she walked down the aisle. The awesomeness of Anna and Tamara and Marion (and the other one whose name I can't remember).  Also props to Amy and Becky for working with Doris on bustling, somehow they did it!!) The rehearsal. The rehearsal dinner. Kelly, Meadows, Michelle. The adorableness of Hilary and Frankie. Getting treated to makeup and hair!! The SUV Anna rented. The Wilder Mansion. The perfect weather. And people used the gum and hand lotion I brought in my kit. Eric and Laurie and Matt and Kevin and his mom and Ben and Val and the FutureSource people. Getting to spend like a full day and a half with Doris. I also truly liked Rollin's family and friend Jane, and felt I could've hung with them more. The trolley. The reception. The music. The toast. The photographers. The dancing. The table decorations and photo booth and Cardis. The vegan cupcakes with BSG on them!! The brunch the next day. (Michelle liked my dress, woo!) The people who told me I did well officiating. I loved it all and it was so amazing. The only downside is that I didn't sleep well Friday or Saturday, and it really hit me Saturday evening; I hit a wall around 7 or 8. I got my 2nd wind and my 3rd wind, but no more winds after I'd danced a few dances. Wish I could've danced more and stayed later, but no regrets. I still had a blast. (Added in later...there was a communication snafu with the pet sitters that required me to leave the hotel late - or lateish - on Friday, drive home, take care of Darra, and return to the hotel. But I did it, no problems. Go me!) 

A wonderful weekend, a perfect bride and groom.