Fall Break, Part 2

No, you didn't miss a post. And yes, I'm about a month and a half late. I've been trying to write for weeks now, but the days I have the time I don't have the capacity. So backtrack with me a bit, will you, as I reminisce about Fall Break mere days after Thanksgiving Break and just a few weeks from Winter Break. My four-day weekend for fall break happened to coincide with the wedding of great friend. For years, I have referred to my closest friends from high school as "the girls", but those simple words could never describe just how important these particular girls are to me. This year will be our 10th annual Christmas party, which means we've known each other since the days of braces, Backstreet Boys CD releases, and instant messenger. My love for "the girls" could fill an entire blog, but the short of it is we've been through a lot individually and as a group, and ten years and ten cities later, we are still close friends. The third "girls" wedding was one of the highlights of my break, not only because all nine of us were finally reunited, but because we got to watch Kourtney marry her best friend.

My goal for the weekend, post-Enfield, was to see as many of the girls as much as possible, since I live so far way now and it's rare that we are all together. Eight of the nine of us spent Saturday afternoon hanging out with the bride and her family at a low-key cookout, then met up with the bridesmaids that night for a quick drink. It was great to be together again, with the addition of boyfriends and husbands, and it only built up the anticipation for the following day.

Sunday was an absolutely gorgeous fall day, a perfect day for a wedding. And we looked pretty nice, too :)

We arrived at the outdoor venue and were greeted by the bride and her bridesmaids from the second-floor window of the bridal suite. As always, Kourt looked calm and collected, and you could tell even from hundreds of feet and two stories away that she was stunning. I had seen her dress the day before, but it always looks a million times more gorgeous on the glowing bride, and I couldn't wait for her to walk down the aisle.

The ceremony was intimate and incredibly beautiful. Kourt's sister has an amazing voice, and her version of Jason Mraz's "I Won't Give Up" fit the occasion perfectly. I couldn't get over how calm and content the bride looked the whole time, like this was exactly where she was supposed to be. It's what you hope every bride is thinking on their wedding day, but Kourt's calm confidence was incredible.

The rest of the night was spent celebrating the couple with hilarious toasts and absolutely delicious food...I'm pretty sure we all went back for seconds. Oh, and the dance floor. Must I even mention the dance floor? Even Jenna, who is recovering from a broken ankle and was sporting a boot, spent most of the night dancing (we may have hassled the deejay a bit to play a few of our favorite songs, ahem, MMMbop).

It's always bittersweet to come back from a long weekend (90% bitter, 10% sweet). It's hard to leave behind the people I love the most, and it's a tough transition back to 4:30 am wake up calls and being responsible for your own meals (can't I have catered food for every meal?). But it's also nice to get back to a routine, have my own space, and get back to the work and the job that I love.

Hopefully part 1 of Fall Break is coming soon...