In case anyone wondered...

The wedding referred to in my last post did take place, and was a success. (Meaning, they are now married.) And everything and everyone was beautiful, and from what I could tell, a good time was had by all. I came back exhausted, worked for two days, and then headed off to New Orleans for more fun. And so my brain has been too dead or I have been too busy to update much. Until now! Lucky you.

As far as my fears about my outspoken relatives, I escaped (rather miraculously) with only one "I keep trying to get Jennifer to forget that they're cousins" from my aunt (in reference to her wife-search for her son, my first cousin). I turned and told the next single female cousin down the line to watch out, because our aunt would be trying to get her to forget next. And I said so loud enough for my aunt to hear, hoping that thought would take root and grow in her little scheming mind, and that she will eventually like that idea better. Because this cousin is younger and has more time to bear mutant babies.

This conversation occurred upon leaving a "ladies breakfast" the morning of the wedding. (Oh, the food, people, the food! It was all so delicious! And there were SO many meals for one weekend!) Now I am completely distracted by memories of food and have lost my train on thought... oh yeah! At the breakfast my aunt had been seated next to the brides two younger sisters, and even though they are still in college, and her son is 31, had said this to them: "You all are just so pretty! Are you married? No? Good! Because my son is here and he's single! I'm looking for a wife for him." This was followed by uncomfortable laughter from the girls. Or maybe it was just me that was uncomfortable, because I was the only one listening who knew that she was serious.
So, pretty mild stuff, if I do say so myself. They were on good behaviour.

I did get approached by a friend of the family at a breakfast the morning after the wedding (I told you, a lot of meals) who told me that one of the greatest mysteries (according to him) was why there aren't loads of young men chasing after me and his only remaining adult single daughter (a girl who I grew up with, and is 2 years older than me - I like mentioning when people are older than me.). I suggested that perhaps they were all intimidated by our overwhelming awesomeness. I thought this a pretty good theory, but he didn't entertain it at all. No, he told me what he says he tells her, that we are fishing in a small pond. He thinks that she needs to leave San Fran and I need to leave Atlanta and that we should both move to the land o' plenty (of straight men). And that we should also stop getting older. (That one's even tougher.)

But it was a great weekend surrounded by incredibly great people - and great food! (Have I mentioned that?) There were old friends and new friends and family, and toasting and roasting and storytelling, and dancing and feasting. And purpley mountains and green hills. Which can kind of be seen here:




And for the first time ever at a wedding...!! I saw men actively participate in a garter toss. It was unusual. So I took photos. Here's one:




And I got to see this lovely dance performed live in front of me. Well, most of this lovely dance. Maybe not the humping the floor part. Because it was a fancy weekend - and that stuff is better done in 80's aerobics gear than in a tux.

I'd say the only down side (for me, and this is all about me) was that I started feeling sick during the reception. Early into the meal - for no apparent reason. And you know when you feel like you're going to throw up the last thing you want to think about is eating? Well, that goes for drinking too. And we were at this lovely vineyard where they kept bringing out different wines paired for all the foods, and I actually wanted to try the beer - there was some good locally brewed beer. And I couldn't drink it. :( But you know what was worse? When they cut the cake and I realized that not only did they have white and chocolate cakes - but they were serving it with ICE CREAM! I have never been to a wedding where they served the cake with ice cream - and I've been to a lot of weddings. So you know how when you feel nauseous just thinking of eating makes you feel more so? Well, I was actually thinking of eating the cake anyway, even if it meant throwing up in my bridesmaid's dress - that is how devoted I am to cake. But I didn't. I acted mature. And you know what? I was rewarded! Because the next day on my way home you know what I found stored in my car? A couple of boxes of chocolate cake. So I stopped at the first convenience store I came to, got myself a plastic fork, and I went to work on one of those boxes. I went to work for the next 9 hours.

As I said, a great weekend.