I’m a really lucky person. If this weekend showed me anything it’s that. First, I got the Saturday off work to go to Kate and Josh’s wedding (Congratulations are in order), which I was afraid was going to be difficult. However, Dawn is an amazing boss/forewoman and didn’t bat an eyelash when I asked for the day off. Then, Travis took me to the airport, I spent a few hours overnight on the flight, and Forrest picked me up. We proceeded to bum around Pittsburgh, entertaining ourselves with attempting to navigate the abortion that is their “grid” system. We stumbled our way on to the road that we were looking for, which is physically impossible to get to following the directions from Route 66. We rambled around the South Side, grabbing a bagel and just hanging out. I haven’t spent nearly enough time with Forrest just hanging out, and it was great. We August boys go well together, I can’t wait till he visits over Spring Break.
Kate’s wedding was amazing. We weren’t even in the door of the little bed & breakfast when I heard someone who could only be the blushing bride tapping on the window like a madwoman. Her mom grabbed us and ushered us upstairs to see her. Kate has always been one of the most beautiful girls I know, from the time when I first met her, back on the first day of band camp before our sophomore year of High School. She looked perfect yesterday. It was like this with Dan and Sarah as well, it’s like on your wedding day all of a sudden you just look “right”. There was just an aura around her that was amazing. I was so excited to see her, and I’m still pretty giddy right now.
As Forrest and I “mingled” (an odd choice of words to describe talking only to each other), I got to finally meet (in person) Josh. He’s a great guy. He and Kate look perfect together, and he was just so nice and gushing when I talked to him. We hung out a little later too, and it was just really “right”. Those two are so lucky. I remember when Kate was first telling me about him, she just sounded so happy. Considering who she’s had to wade through to get here, it was about time.
The ceremony was short and sweet, with the couple on the steps of the porch to the inn, us in the courtyard, and a string quartet on the porch above. Picturesque and perfect, just like everything else. The highlight was definitely the first dance, because during the first chord, I knew this thing was meant to be. As the words “Blue Jean Baby…” rumbled from the stereo, Tiny Dancer took over everything, and the happy couple had their first dance as husband and wife. Now some of you may not know, but that song is quite possibly one of the best in the world. The inclusion of it, and the enjoyment of it by both of them is only further proof as to the amazing bond that they have.
The rest of the evening was fun, minus a short interlude with a ghost from the past, with talks of Ravenswood and high school band.
What about this made me realize that I am lucky? I’ll be honest, I’m not the greatest friend. To anyone, and with Kate, distance has always been one of our worst enemies. We’re both forgetful people. But there’s no way that I wouldn’t have been there. I would have never been able to look her in the eye had I not been there, and her family, her husband, and her friends were all so wonderful and nice, I just couldn’t believe it. There are a lot of bonds that I’ve made with people, from West Virginia to New Jersey, from Georgia to California and beyond, that I sometimes take for granted. But I’m lucky because you guys always remind me how terrible it is to do this. My friends and my family are all a bunch of great folks, and ceremonies like this weekend really show me this.
justinª