even as we seek simpler lives and calmer skies, i know i'll miss the high-strung energy of this time in my life. i don't take many pictures lately, but i've got a personal album of memories i hope to flip through like snapshots.
friday morning, in ellen's kitchen, i put my elbows on the island, drinking coffee in my wedding dress. we needed to measure the waist, and then i just kept it on for a bit, hiking it up to move around, feeling the fit and pull of all that fabric, simultaneously wondering how i'd wear it for a whole day and wishing it wouldn't be over too quickly. once i realized that, with my luck, i'd probably spill coffee down the front of the dress, i hastily changed.
ellen and i listened to music, sifted through old postcards, and hammered down endless details that seemed to be floating above my head like previously-unattainable clouds. talking through details with her, i started to enjoy myself, started to see i wasn't alone, started to feel hopeful about everything. i don't think i could do this wedding without her. it was refreshing.
friday evening, david and i moved some more boxes to the new apartment, met the crazy next-door neighbor (who strings ted rope-lights across her driveway every night so no one uses it), attempted to put together some shelves, gave up, and went over to zach's to play games. we met up with joe, tracy, mary, zach, and justin. we brought the game "loaded questions" and, despite some skepticism on zach's part, proceeded to have a hilarious time. justin's answers were, by far, the most disturbing and hilarious of anyone's.
saturday i squeezed in a short work-out, then david and i went to the farmer's market, where i ate a delicious pupusa. it was sunny and packed, and i loved being a part of the crowd, moving from tent to tent. we saw sarah, amanda, erin, and sam, and went into java joes for some coffee and conversation. it was good to catch up with them.
the rest of saturday was scheduled for david and i to escape town and get some time to ourselves. we loaded up on snacks and music, and headed north to ledges state park. we hiked up and down the web of trails for the entire afternoon, creek walking for part of the time, and stopped briefly to work on our vows. this uninterrupted time with david was valuable - with the nonstop wedding planning, not to mention family drama as of late, i'd felt preoccupied and overwhelmed, and felt like i'd been playing the martyr a little too much - having to do everything myself. i was getting uncharacteristically emotional, from bottling everything inside, and we needed that time to talk some stuff out. by the time we sat down for dinner at the old main brewing company in ames, i felt a renewed peace.
sunday was so chaotic. work consumed my morning as i tried to prep, coordinate, and lead a teacher's appreciation program (talking into a mic makes me want to throw up), then jenalee showed up at church with an ex-boyfriend of hers that i particularly despise, wanting to "surprise mom". at lunch, mom and i proceeded to have an out-and-out phone fight, we then had to make nice an hour later at a childhood friend's baby shower. weddings season seems to bring out the best and the worst in family dynamics. in the evening, david and i went to our friend mallory's college graduation party, where we ate our weight in chips and salsa and got to spend some quality time with a good crew of people before heading home to watch the conclusion of LOST.
we'd debated going to a friend's place for this monumental occasion, but we weren't directly invited, and didn't feel like imposing. we also thought this might be the sort of thing best done on your own, to pay homage to a great show in silence and appreciation, and i'm so glad we did. it was stunningly beautiful, and i loved the spiritual undertones and the messages that were found through-out the series. the ending scene, in a church, gorgeously depicted a slice of heaven, and was full of reconciliation and forgiveness. the ending lived up to all my expectations, and seemed to give full credit to the characters that so many people had come to love. it was like finishing a deliciously good book - bittersweet that it had to end, but wow, what a ride.
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