This one was taken by Kyle's very good friend, Kristen. I adore her, the few times I've been around her, and apparently she's a phenomenal photographer.
Tell me what you think!
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label wedding. Show all posts
08 October 2008
My favorite picture so far
Lots of people had cameras at the wedding, and I've been gleaning a plethora of pictures from Facebook and via email, on the web, etc.
This one was taken by Kyle's very good friend, Kristen. I adore her, the few times I've been around her, and apparently she's a phenomenal photographer.
Tell me what you think!
This one was taken by Kyle's very good friend, Kristen. I adore her, the few times I've been around her, and apparently she's a phenomenal photographer.
Tell me what you think!
07 October 2008
Wedding pictures
Our photographer is totally on the ball. In one week, she's already got the photos up on her site.
Visit: www.bellavitastudios.photoreflect.com
Look for "09.27.08 Lana and Kyle" link under Recent Work.
There are 4 (count 'em, FOUR) different albums under our name. They are all different.
Enjoy perusing!
Visit: www.bellavitastudios.
Look for "09.27.08 Lana and Kyle" link under Recent Work.
There are 4 (count 'em, FOUR) different albums under our name. They are all different.
Enjoy perusing!
24 September 2008
3 days
Today I get to go home and begin the weekend festivities. It shall commence with a family dinner, the likes of which we haven't seen since Christmastime last year. It will be awesome.
Tomorrow is a party with my bridesmaids, and arranging flowers and playing with my dear little Katie.
Friday begins with a massage from my first regular masseuse (I started at 18 with massive back tension problems), then is followed by breakfast with the girls, church decorating, more flower arranging, backyard decorating, perhaps some nails and other relaxing things, the rehearsal in the evening, and then the dinner with a lot of fun people making it in.
Saturday is the day. Kyle & I have to be ready in our get-up for pictures at 11:30am. Oof. That seems early. Considering the prep necessary to make a girl look ready for her wedding.
But I suspect it shall be a lovely day. A lovely weekend.
Can't wait to see many of you there. For those of you who can't join us, we're sorry for that, but do promise pictures sometime.
Today I begin to leave my past behind me for good. Though I won't become a new person, I'm beginning a new life. Which is so very thrilling to me.
Tomorrow is a party with my bridesmaids, and arranging flowers and playing with my dear little Katie.
Friday begins with a massage from my first regular masseuse (I started at 18 with massive back tension problems), then is followed by breakfast with the girls, church decorating, more flower arranging, backyard decorating, perhaps some nails and other relaxing things, the rehearsal in the evening, and then the dinner with a lot of fun people making it in.
Saturday is the day. Kyle & I have to be ready in our get-up for pictures at 11:30am. Oof. That seems early. Considering the prep necessary to make a girl look ready for her wedding.
But I suspect it shall be a lovely day. A lovely weekend.
Can't wait to see many of you there. For those of you who can't join us, we're sorry for that, but do promise pictures sometime.
Today I begin to leave my past behind me for good. Though I won't become a new person, I'm beginning a new life. Which is so very thrilling to me.
22 September 2008
5 days
I shed my first tear today in terms of life-change emotional goodness.
Sara W., my dear, you're words were beautiful.
I'm doing well, and even got quite a bit of actual work done today (for my job, you know).
But, as I told Cara, what I really want is to be home making space for my husband. I want to be home, throwing out my junk, and putting wedding and shower gifts in places that make sense, instead of on all the furniture in the living room. I want to clean off the guest bed, to have places for all of Kyle's things, his books, his movies, his CDs, his clothes, his plethora of coats. I want him to feel at home when we return from our Costa Rican adventure next week, but I'm afraid he'll just go crazy with the chaos that is our home right now.
I hope he knows how much I wish I had energy and time to make space for him. But I just don't. I can't do it.
Sorry, honey.
Not apprehensive. Not sick. Not totally exhausted (though, perhaps, close). Not anxious. Not nervous. Not experiencing cold feet.
Just excited to see my family all together after so long, excited to be adding to my family numbers in several ways, excited to finally get to be with the man I love all the time.
Only five days stand between me and the realization of so many dreams I've had, so many things I've always wanted and never even known. Five days, friends. That is not very long.
Sara W., my dear, you're words were beautiful.
I'm doing well, and even got quite a bit of actual work done today (for my job, you know).
But, as I told Cara, what I really want is to be home making space for my husband. I want to be home, throwing out my junk, and putting wedding and shower gifts in places that make sense, instead of on all the furniture in the living room. I want to clean off the guest bed, to have places for all of Kyle's things, his books, his movies, his CDs, his clothes, his plethora of coats. I want him to feel at home when we return from our Costa Rican adventure next week, but I'm afraid he'll just go crazy with the chaos that is our home right now.
I hope he knows how much I wish I had energy and time to make space for him. But I just don't. I can't do it.
Sorry, honey.
Not apprehensive. Not sick. Not totally exhausted (though, perhaps, close). Not anxious. Not nervous. Not experiencing cold feet.
Just excited to see my family all together after so long, excited to be adding to my family numbers in several ways, excited to finally get to be with the man I love all the time.
Only five days stand between me and the realization of so many dreams I've had, so many things I've always wanted and never even known. Five days, friends. That is not very long.
18 September 2008
A year ago...
Today is the 18th. Yesterday was a Wednesday.
A year ago on Wed., Sept. 19th was Nick's funeral. When I think of him still, my chest constricts a little. On facebook this week, I noticed one of his best friends has a profile picture of several of "the guys". Nick is among them. His smile, the biggest.
A year ago on this day, a Thursday, we had a birthday party at work and I broke down crying in front of all of my coworkers. I didn't understand, saw no hope, couldn't grasp the goodness that was lost to the world in this accident.
My ultimatum to God that week (something I wouldn't recommend doing) was this: "Something good had better come of this...You can't fix it, but you'd better do something."
That attitude obviously reeks of bitterness and grief. I was torn between knowing God is good and seeing the pain of a 4-year-old child now fatherless, a widowed 24-year-old, and the loss of a great man from our small community.
A year later, I still don't know the reason for Nick's death. Maybe there wasn't one. Maybe there is no moral lesson to be learned. Maybe it just was an accident.
But good has come of this tragedy, at least in my life. And that's the confusing and awesome and, at the same time, disturbing part.
You see, in the aftermath of Nick's funeral, a large group of my high school friends, which consisted mostly of guys in the graduating class after mine, spent the afternoon recovering at a local restaurant. Elizabeth and I sat down with some old friends and alternately shared stories and stared in silence.
Kyle W. was among that group, someone I hadn't seen in seven years. He sat at our 4-person table--Elizabeth, Kyle, Adam, and myself. I hadn't thought of him in years. And I guess it was that afternoon that he decided he wanted to get to know me.
Now, I would never presume to think that God wanted it all to happen this way. But I do believe that He orchestrates events, people, and timing so that good can come from evil. I didn't have to run into Kyle for the first time in seven years at Nick's funeral. But I did. And having something great happen in my life that was tied to that deep sadness was very much a part of my healing process.
We can never know the why's. Why is she so sick from that disease? Why did they die so young? Why do people suffer and why, God, am I so tremendously blessed?
We don't have these answers. But "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required" (Luke 12:48). I have been blessed...far beyond anything I could hope to deserve. I deserve nothing.
I don't know why exactly God chose this venue for Kyle and I to meet up after years of not thinking about each other. I don't know why this was the catalyst for our fantastic relationship. I don't know why, only a year later, we're getting married except that God saw a way to use our present circumstances for something great.
The last month has been so stressful and not, as one might presume, because of wedding details. Life and work have been unbelievably overwhelming. Crazy little things--both bad and just annoying--have continually plagued me. Sickness, a car accident, technology issues at work, etc. I have felt attacked and unprepared to deal with all of this.
Till Sara W. reminded me of this passage from our favorite author, Anne Lamott:
"So I've been on the lookout for something wonderful to happen because of this story I heard recently. Carolyn Myss, the medical intuitive who writes and lectures people about why people don't heal, flew to Russia a few years ago to give some lectures. Everything that could go wrong did--flights were canceled or overbooked, connections missed, her reserved room at the hotel given to someone else. She kept trying to be a good sport, but finally, two mornings later, on the train to her conference on healing, she began to whine the man sitting beside her about how infuriating her journey had been thus far. "
"It turned out that this man worked for the Dalai Lama. And he said --gently--that they believe when a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born--and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be born as perfectly as possible."
(Traveling Mercies, pg. 107)
I'm excited to marry Kyle because I know, for once in my life, that this is the absolute Right thing to do. God has blessed it. Our families have blessed it. And we have no doubts that this is our next step. Everything that I've dealt with, all the hassles and irritations in the last six weeks, have been distractions from this one, most beautiful thing that is about to come into existence.
And so, you can see that I have a lot on my mind. My silence here does not mean that I am floating by on some disillusioned rose-colored cloud. I have a week until I'm married. I don't even know the half of how this is going to greatly impact and change my world. But I'm anxiously awaiting the day, the event, the symbolism and reality of two lives joining up for the rest of their journeys on Earth.
A year ago on Wed., Sept. 19th was Nick's funeral. When I think of him still, my chest constricts a little. On facebook this week, I noticed one of his best friends has a profile picture of several of "the guys". Nick is among them. His smile, the biggest.
A year ago on this day, a Thursday, we had a birthday party at work and I broke down crying in front of all of my coworkers. I didn't understand, saw no hope, couldn't grasp the goodness that was lost to the world in this accident.
My ultimatum to God that week (something I wouldn't recommend doing) was this: "Something good had better come of this...You can't fix it, but you'd better do something."
That attitude obviously reeks of bitterness and grief. I was torn between knowing God is good and seeing the pain of a 4-year-old child now fatherless, a widowed 24-year-old, and the loss of a great man from our small community.
A year later, I still don't know the reason for Nick's death. Maybe there wasn't one. Maybe there is no moral lesson to be learned. Maybe it just was an accident.
But good has come of this tragedy, at least in my life. And that's the confusing and awesome and, at the same time, disturbing part.
You see, in the aftermath of Nick's funeral, a large group of my high school friends, which consisted mostly of guys in the graduating class after mine, spent the afternoon recovering at a local restaurant. Elizabeth and I sat down with some old friends and alternately shared stories and stared in silence.
Kyle W. was among that group, someone I hadn't seen in seven years. He sat at our 4-person table--Elizabeth, Kyle, Adam, and myself. I hadn't thought of him in years. And I guess it was that afternoon that he decided he wanted to get to know me.
Now, I would never presume to think that God wanted it all to happen this way. But I do believe that He orchestrates events, people, and timing so that good can come from evil. I didn't have to run into Kyle for the first time in seven years at Nick's funeral. But I did. And having something great happen in my life that was tied to that deep sadness was very much a part of my healing process.
We can never know the why's. Why is she so sick from that disease? Why did they die so young? Why do people suffer and why, God, am I so tremendously blessed?
We don't have these answers. But "From everyone who has been given much, much will be required" (Luke 12:48). I have been blessed...far beyond anything I could hope to deserve. I deserve nothing.
I don't know why exactly God chose this venue for Kyle and I to meet up after years of not thinking about each other. I don't know why this was the catalyst for our fantastic relationship. I don't know why, only a year later, we're getting married except that God saw a way to use our present circumstances for something great.
The last month has been so stressful and not, as one might presume, because of wedding details. Life and work have been unbelievably overwhelming. Crazy little things--both bad and just annoying--have continually plagued me. Sickness, a car accident, technology issues at work, etc. I have felt attacked and unprepared to deal with all of this.
Till Sara W. reminded me of this passage from our favorite author, Anne Lamott:
"So I've been on the lookout for something wonderful to happen because of this story I heard recently. Carolyn Myss, the medical intuitive who writes and lectures people about why people don't heal, flew to Russia a few years ago to give some lectures. Everything that could go wrong did--flights were canceled or overbooked, connections missed, her reserved room at the hotel given to someone else. She kept trying to be a good sport, but finally, two mornings later, on the train to her conference on healing, she began to whine the man sitting beside her about how infuriating her journey had been thus far. "
"It turned out that this man worked for the Dalai Lama. And he said --gently--that they believe when a lot of things start going wrong all at once, it is to protect something big and lovely that is trying to get itself born--and that this something needs for you to be distracted so that it can be born as perfectly as possible."
(Traveling Mercies, pg. 107)
I'm excited to marry Kyle because I know, for once in my life, that this is the absolute Right thing to do. God has blessed it. Our families have blessed it. And we have no doubts that this is our next step. Everything that I've dealt with, all the hassles and irritations in the last six weeks, have been distractions from this one, most beautiful thing that is about to come into existence.
And so, you can see that I have a lot on my mind. My silence here does not mean that I am floating by on some disillusioned rose-colored cloud. I have a week until I'm married. I don't even know the half of how this is going to greatly impact and change my world. But I'm anxiously awaiting the day, the event, the symbolism and reality of two lives joining up for the rest of their journeys on Earth.
12 September 2008
All in the course of a week
- I discovered an attic in my house (er...well...Kyle did).
- I developed a rare tongue-ear-throat-nose issue that laid me up for a day.
- I took my first sick day of the year (and since passing out in March).
- Had the carpet removed from my kitchen (and soon to be from the bathroom) and replaced with vinyl. Who ever thought I'd be happy to have vinyl?!
- We began rearranging my house to become our house.
- He began moving his stuff in.
- I shared my favorite movie with him.
- Visited the chiropractor twice (to fix the pinched nerve from last week).
- Attended a shower in my honor with people from work: a lovely event.
26 August 2008
How to 'Splain
It's uncommon, I suspect, that after college a person is able to depend upon their core group of friends in the same ways they did when everyone lived on the same campus, or at least in the same town. Moving to Bloomington for grad school was such a let down because I knew that Elaine wasn't across the street, the Liz wasn't in the next room, and Cat would no longer be at my lunch table. The random drop-by's and dinners together in the dining commons were no longer every day nor yearly events to look forward to that involved these essential people.
Sometimes I wonder how I am able to live in this tiny town by myself, traversing the same paths that used to carry me to my people and now direct me to my job or in endless circles around a neighborhood in which I know no one.
Once you leave college, you anticipate the huge events to bring you and those important to you back together, even though you know it can never replicate the bliss of those years of sharing classes, meals, secrets, and long walks around the Loop. Reunions, weddings, these are the events that must reunite all of you. This past weekend, for the first time in four years, I found myself in a city looking at most of the people I dearly loved in college, the ones who met for Tuesday night dinners and those I shared road trips with.
The event that brought us together was, indeed, significant: the girl who is closest to my soul was married in the most beautiful church to a phenomenal man who gets her and appreciates all the things that make her Elaine. I was honored to stand with her that day, but even more so by the words she spoke about me at the rehearsal dinner. The bride and groom toasted their attendants and I was surprised and touched. Elaine and I share so many memories, in fact, I can hardly recall any TU memory that that does not involve her. The first year when we were not close is a blur; I remember nothing. It's as if my life started during that second year, after she befriended me.
As she gave me space to emerge from my tightly-woven cocoon, Elaine shared with me the world of music, writing, and random creativity. Her charge, "Give me three good reasons why you can't go with me..." completely changed my life. Because of her, I found who I am (which was no small task); I found my voice and the path before me, and I struck out with her at my side, fully supporting me.
Having that encouraging, loving presence marks a person -- marks you as someone who is loved, but also challenges the receiver it to pass it on. I learned to love, to be a true friend, to expand my mind and to stick to my guns when necessary through our friendship.
These last few years watching from a distance as Elaine met and fell in love with Jim, I witnessed a growth in her that I wasn't expecting, and I knew he must possess something profound, something intense and wonderful. After meeting him, I knew this to be true.
I did not know it possible to share in so much joy with someone...especially from such a distance. Maybe because I'm going through a very similar stage of life, I am able to appreciate their triumphs and trials. Maybe it's because she and I have a deep and abiding connection. Maybe it's just because I love her dearly.
'Laine, I am blessed by having you in my life and being a part of your wedding day meant so much. Thank you, darling! And Congratulations!
To Jim & Elaine! Many years. Many laughs. Much love.
Sometimes I wonder how I am able to live in this tiny town by myself, traversing the same paths that used to carry me to my people and now direct me to my job or in endless circles around a neighborhood in which I know no one.
Once you leave college, you anticipate the huge events to bring you and those important to you back together, even though you know it can never replicate the bliss of those years of sharing classes, meals, secrets, and long walks around the Loop. Reunions, weddings, these are the events that must reunite all of you. This past weekend, for the first time in four years, I found myself in a city looking at most of the people I dearly loved in college, the ones who met for Tuesday night dinners and those I shared road trips with.
The event that brought us together was, indeed, significant: the girl who is closest to my soul was married in the most beautiful church to a phenomenal man who gets her and appreciates all the things that make her Elaine. I was honored to stand with her that day, but even more so by the words she spoke about me at the rehearsal dinner. The bride and groom toasted their attendants and I was surprised and touched. Elaine and I share so many memories, in fact, I can hardly recall any TU memory that that does not involve her. The first year when we were not close is a blur; I remember nothing. It's as if my life started during that second year, after she befriended me.
As she gave me space to emerge from my tightly-woven cocoon, Elaine shared with me the world of music, writing, and random creativity. Her charge, "Give me three good reasons why you can't go with me..." completely changed my life. Because of her, I found who I am (which was no small task); I found my voice and the path before me, and I struck out with her at my side, fully supporting me.
Having that encouraging, loving presence marks a person -- marks you as someone who is loved, but also challenges the receiver it to pass it on. I learned to love, to be a true friend, to expand my mind and to stick to my guns when necessary through our friendship.
These last few years watching from a distance as Elaine met and fell in love with Jim, I witnessed a growth in her that I wasn't expecting, and I knew he must possess something profound, something intense and wonderful. After meeting him, I knew this to be true.
I did not know it possible to share in so much joy with someone...especially from such a distance. Maybe because I'm going through a very similar stage of life, I am able to appreciate their triumphs and trials. Maybe it's because she and I have a deep and abiding connection. Maybe it's just because I love her dearly.
'Laine, I am blessed by having you in my life and being a part of your wedding day meant so much. Thank you, darling! And Congratulations!
To Jim & Elaine! Many years. Many laughs. Much love.
11 August 2008
And we have it...
The first RSVP for the wedding!!
One of my great-aunts is the most prompt invitee ever. Love that! I didn't even know if she was connected to the Internet.
Seven weeks to go, and most things are in order.
One of my great-aunts is the most prompt invitee ever. Love that! I didn't even know if she was connected to the Internet.
Seven weeks to go, and most things are in order.
19 June 2008
Additions
I started out life with two sisters and a brother.
I never really considered what it would be like to add to the ranks of my siblings. Never realized that marriages would bring people in.
When Franz joined the family, I couldn't have been more thrilled to have another brother. And then Emily Jane found Evan and it seemed like she'd been a part of our family forever. Somewhere in there, we adopted a family from North Carolina and for once I had a little sister.
I decided that in my wedding I want my sisters to stand up with me, and when I counted them, I realized I have five, because I'm gaining another one from Kyle's family. Amy has always been someone that I admired and appreciated on numerous levels. I'm ecstatic to be able to call her sister here very shortly. No one matters more to me than these girls. I'm honored to have them support me on such a monumental day for me.
I can't neglect to mention, however, that I'm also gaining two brothers. Unbelievable!
Yay!
I never really considered what it would be like to add to the ranks of my siblings. Never realized that marriages would bring people in.
When Franz joined the family, I couldn't have been more thrilled to have another brother. And then Emily Jane found Evan and it seemed like she'd been a part of our family forever. Somewhere in there, we adopted a family from North Carolina and for once I had a little sister.
I decided that in my wedding I want my sisters to stand up with me, and when I counted them, I realized I have five, because I'm gaining another one from Kyle's family. Amy has always been someone that I admired and appreciated on numerous levels. I'm ecstatic to be able to call her sister here very shortly. No one matters more to me than these girls. I'm honored to have them support me on such a monumental day for me.
I can't neglect to mention, however, that I'm also gaining two brothers. Unbelievable!
Yay!
12 June 2008
Things that seem strange, yet wonderful.
Calling someone my fiance.
Realizing that I have to find a wedding dress.
Knowing with whom I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
Wearing a diamond ring.
Officially creating my own family unit.
Changing my last name.
Loving someone this much, so much that it overwhelms me every single day.
(I know that is cheesy. I know. But it's true, so what's a girl to do?)
Realizing that I have to find a wedding dress.
Knowing with whom I'm going to spend the rest of my life.
Wearing a diamond ring.
Officially creating my own family unit.
Changing my last name.
Loving someone this much, so much that it overwhelms me every single day.
(I know that is cheesy. I know. But it's true, so what's a girl to do?)
10 March 2007
Weekend pictures
I had to post more pictures from this weekend, as I took quite a few. I love having a digital camera.
Cousins, Rita and Sara
Sara's dad, Roger (my mom's brother), and her baby, Ava
Rita's baby, Toby
Another cousin's (Laura) little girl - Susanna
Elliot and Ashley
Emily and Evan
Emily Anne, Alaina, and Emily Jane
Grandpa, Aunt Janet, and Grandma (my mom's parents and sister)
My favorite picture of Katie and Emily
Cousins, Rita and Sara
Sara's dad, Roger (my mom's brother), and her baby, Ava
Rita's baby, Toby
Another cousin's (Laura) little girl - Susanna
Elliot and Ashley
Emily and Evan
Emily Anne, Alaina, and Emily Jane
Grandpa, Aunt Janet, and Grandma (my mom's parents and sister)
My favorite picture of Katie and Emily
Wedding extravaganza
Another cousin got married. For the first time it was a younger cousin. I've entered a new stage of life confusion.
Liz and Luke, however, were meant for each other - everyone in their families thinks so, and it has become more and more apparent as the years have passed. As one member of the Cummings clan put it, "That ceremony was the shortest part of Liz & Luke's relationship." They've dated for over six years. They will be married for many more. The ceremony was short, simple, and perfect. The bride and all of her bridesmaids were lovely. The reception, lovely, and another fun event for our ginormous family.
A few pictures from the event.
The Bride and Groom (Liz & Luke)
The centerpieces at the reception (very lovely).
Maddie and Katie getting along for a brief moment, long enough for an adorable picture.
Myself and Stephanie, my close friend and cousin, sister of the bride, and co-maid of honor.
Liz and Luke, however, were meant for each other - everyone in their families thinks so, and it has become more and more apparent as the years have passed. As one member of the Cummings clan put it, "That ceremony was the shortest part of Liz & Luke's relationship." They've dated for over six years. They will be married for many more. The ceremony was short, simple, and perfect. The bride and all of her bridesmaids were lovely. The reception, lovely, and another fun event for our ginormous family.
A few pictures from the event.
The Bride and Groom (Liz & Luke)
The centerpieces at the reception (very lovely).
Maddie and Katie getting along for a brief moment, long enough for an adorable picture.
Myself and Stephanie, my close friend and cousin, sister of the bride, and co-maid of honor.
13 November 2006
I was in the most wonderful wedding this weekend. Liz and Chalupa got married, and although at times it felt as if it all happened very quickly, I find myself wanting to say, "it's about time!" Probably because they were made for each other.
Practical Liz is so organized that for the bridesmaids, at least, the wedding day wasn't stressful. I hope the same can be said for her.
There were a few times I was really nervous, however, throughout the event on Saturday.
#1) As I stepped up to the microphone to read the Middle English poem that Liz had picked out years ago for this very day, in order to keep my hands from shaking while holding the paper on which the poem was written (with my pronunciation hints), I ended up directing all the nervous energy to my legs. It felt as if my entire body, except my hands, was shaking. I was sure it was obvious from the audience, so I kept my eyes glued to the sheet of paper I was clutching.
#2) When I heard the cds that Liz had picked out for the reception were MIA, I realized that the music a typical DJ would play at a wedding would be completely inappropriate for this wedding. And when Michael W. Smith came on...I knew something was wrong. Five minutes later when Celine Dion blasted from the speakers, I almost passed out. Not because I was overjoyed. Not because I was disgusted. But because, despite my affinity for her, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Celine is the last musician on earth that Liz would want to hear on her wedding day. Luckily, before any more CCM treasures made it to the playlist, the DJ found her cds. All was well after that.
#3) While I enjoyed immensely catching up with some of my favorite people in the world, I was shocked to discover that some strangers wanted to converse with me. One in particular must have made a bet with his friends, something like "I bet you won't go talk to her"...followed by a shaking of hands. I say this because he sat down introduced himself and said, "So, you speak Middle English...there, I broke the ice." I was nervous at that point, because I realized what it was. And the next few words out of his mouth, "I've been meaning to come talk to you all night," cemented my need for nervousness. Bless his heart, he tried. He must have talked for nearly an hour. His friends on the dance floor were laughing at him the whole time. He covered every base - every topic he could muster. But it all came down to his parting comment: "Here's my proposal for you."
At that point, friends, I stopped him and asked that he never use that word in my presence again. "I hate that word," I said, completely deadpan. After asking for the story behind this detestation, I was saved from having to hear his "proposal" or "non-proposal," as he tried to revise it after hearing my story. I got up to say goodbye to my good friends and from that point I every so slowly, but deliberately moved away from this man. He made me anxious. (not in that cute "he makes me nervous" sort of way, either)
For a wedding weekend, I think being nervous only 3 times is pretty spectacular.
Congratulations, Liz and Chalupa!
Practical Liz is so organized that for the bridesmaids, at least, the wedding day wasn't stressful. I hope the same can be said for her.
There were a few times I was really nervous, however, throughout the event on Saturday.
#1) As I stepped up to the microphone to read the Middle English poem that Liz had picked out years ago for this very day, in order to keep my hands from shaking while holding the paper on which the poem was written (with my pronunciation hints), I ended up directing all the nervous energy to my legs. It felt as if my entire body, except my hands, was shaking. I was sure it was obvious from the audience, so I kept my eyes glued to the sheet of paper I was clutching.
#2) When I heard the cds that Liz had picked out for the reception were MIA, I realized that the music a typical DJ would play at a wedding would be completely inappropriate for this wedding. And when Michael W. Smith came on...I knew something was wrong. Five minutes later when Celine Dion blasted from the speakers, I almost passed out. Not because I was overjoyed. Not because I was disgusted. But because, despite my affinity for her, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Celine is the last musician on earth that Liz would want to hear on her wedding day. Luckily, before any more CCM treasures made it to the playlist, the DJ found her cds. All was well after that.
#3) While I enjoyed immensely catching up with some of my favorite people in the world, I was shocked to discover that some strangers wanted to converse with me. One in particular must have made a bet with his friends, something like "I bet you won't go talk to her"...followed by a shaking of hands. I say this because he sat down introduced himself and said, "So, you speak Middle English...there, I broke the ice." I was nervous at that point, because I realized what it was. And the next few words out of his mouth, "I've been meaning to come talk to you all night," cemented my need for nervousness. Bless his heart, he tried. He must have talked for nearly an hour. His friends on the dance floor were laughing at him the whole time. He covered every base - every topic he could muster. But it all came down to his parting comment: "Here's my proposal for you."
At that point, friends, I stopped him and asked that he never use that word in my presence again. "I hate that word," I said, completely deadpan. After asking for the story behind this detestation, I was saved from having to hear his "proposal" or "non-proposal," as he tried to revise it after hearing my story. I got up to say goodbye to my good friends and from that point I every so slowly, but deliberately moved away from this man. He made me anxious. (not in that cute "he makes me nervous" sort of way, either)
For a wedding weekend, I think being nervous only 3 times is pretty spectacular.
Congratulations, Liz and Chalupa!
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