Wedding Fun
I left here on Friday morning for Nashville, TN. The trip was supposed to take just under four hours, it took a little longer than that due to stopping for some T(aco) Bell in a town that reeked of manure without a single farm in sight (but on the upside, I did get to fill up at a gas station named Nervous Charlie's--totally went there just for the name). Then the drive was made longer due to poor directions from Google Maps, which told me to turn from Street A to Street B and then into the hotel. Sounds easy enough, but Street A doesn't connect to Street B. And my hotel was actually located on Street C, which Google Maps never mentioned. Do yourself a favor: only use RandMcNally.com for your driving directions. Thus I spent 30 minutes driving in a one mile radius and confirming what my sister discovered a week ago (and what I was hoping to be a one time fluke): the air conditioning in my car is no longer functioning. My car with black leather interior and nearly 100 degree weather outside. I'll spare you the details of my sweatiness.
But I made it. The reason for the trip you ask? My cousin's wedding.
I got into the amazingly air conditioned hotel, and waited for my family to come back from the rehearsal. Once they did, my Dad asked if we all wanted to check out some art fair in the park across the street. While it sounded like fun, there was no way I was going back out into the heat, so my sister and I each took a bed, curled up, and alternated between ABC Family and the Discovery channel.
That evening we did finally go to the park across the street where there was a BBQ. Only slightly below seeing family on the list of things that were awesome was the dessert for the evening. Some local place there makes the most amazing popsicles ever. My favorite was Cookies and Cream, which was basically a frozen Cookie Dough Blizzard on a stick, followed closely by Strawberry which had plenty of actual fruit in it to make it incredible.
Yesterday morning, also in the park, there was a one mile run to honor the fact that the groom's family is made up of a bunch of avid runners. Since I don't participate in such an activity unless being chased by someone with a weapon and since the temperature was already closing in on 90 at 8am, I stayed in bed.
We eventually did get up, and after getting in our greasy goodness quota for the day with a McDonald's breakfast, we began taking shifts for the hotel room's bathroom to get ready, which only took about three hours with the four of us. We then made our way over towards Vanderbilt's campus and the beautiful Wightman chapel where the ceremony was to take place. My personal dream wedding scenario is a beach for the setting with immediate family only for guests, then everyone can come to a big party later. But if I were to do a more traditional wedding setup, I would easily agree to having something like this for the location. It was gorgeous.
Once my sister and I familiarized ourselves with our station (we were the guestbook attendants), we went in search of Jennifer, our cousin.
I never cry at weddings. And I didn't think I would cry at any point during this weekend. I was wrong.
Jennifer is the closest thing I have to a big sister. She's who I want to be when I grow up: intelligent, gorgeous, well-spoken, funny, and has a closet to die for.
Back track to a little over four years ago. Jennifer had invited me out to Brooklyn (where she was living at the time), and on Christmas I took her up on it saying I would come out for spring break. I'll never forget that week for as long as I live, and one of the reasons why is because that's where I met Warren. Since Jennifer was at work, he was the one who greeted me as my taxi pulled up to the apartment the two of them shared with their friend George and Leo the cat. We stashed my stuff away and the two of us went on adventure that spanned a good chunk of Manhattan where we later met up with Jennifer. A couple nights later on a subway ride back to the apartment from a taping of Letterman, Warren and I ran into someone he knew. He introduced me as "my girlfri--roommate's cousin". The following night over Indian food, again when Jennifer wasn't around, he said he needed to explain the comment he made. He then told me how he watched his friend and roommate at Harvard date Jennifer, and over time Warren fell in love with her. But since the other guy and Jennifer dated for the majority of her time at Harvard, Warren didn't think he'd ever get a chance. Then, lo and behold, Jennifer and the other guy broke up and a couple of years later, Jennifer wanted to move to New York and needed a place to stay and was reunited with Warren.
For the record, I asked Jennifer a couple of months later if she knew they were dating at the that moment in time when I was there for spring break. She said no, so I feel kind of special knowing that they were a couple before she did. Anyway.
I watched Warren's eyes light up as he told his bit of history. I responded by letting him know that I was happy for the two of them, and that I hope that it lasted for a long time, but if it didn't and he was even the tiniest bit at fault, I'd break his kneecaps.
Fast forward to yesterday and to Jennifer walking down the hall towards me in her wedding dress with the light behind her making her gorgeous red hair shine with a huge smile on her face. She looked positively angelic. And it was obvious that she was on the verge of claiming something she's waited for. It was that sight and realization that made me cry tears of joy. Not many, but enough that I made myself walk away before I made her start to cry.
So, to my cousin Jennifer and my new cousin Warren, congratulations and mazel tov. I can't wait to celebrate the highlights of your marriage, and I'll always be here if you need any help I can offer with the times that get rocky. I love you both dearly.
And, if you want, you can read their wedding announcement in the New York Times. The only thing I'm sad it doesn't mention is my Dad's new BFF, Rabbi Hayli who was his co-officiant at the ceremony.
But I made it. The reason for the trip you ask? My cousin's wedding.
I got into the amazingly air conditioned hotel, and waited for my family to come back from the rehearsal. Once they did, my Dad asked if we all wanted to check out some art fair in the park across the street. While it sounded like fun, there was no way I was going back out into the heat, so my sister and I each took a bed, curled up, and alternated between ABC Family and the Discovery channel.
That evening we did finally go to the park across the street where there was a BBQ. Only slightly below seeing family on the list of things that were awesome was the dessert for the evening. Some local place there makes the most amazing popsicles ever. My favorite was Cookies and Cream, which was basically a frozen Cookie Dough Blizzard on a stick, followed closely by Strawberry which had plenty of actual fruit in it to make it incredible.
Yesterday morning, also in the park, there was a one mile run to honor the fact that the groom's family is made up of a bunch of avid runners. Since I don't participate in such an activity unless being chased by someone with a weapon and since the temperature was already closing in on 90 at 8am, I stayed in bed.
We eventually did get up, and after getting in our greasy goodness quota for the day with a McDonald's breakfast, we began taking shifts for the hotel room's bathroom to get ready, which only took about three hours with the four of us. We then made our way over towards Vanderbilt's campus and the beautiful Wightman chapel where the ceremony was to take place. My personal dream wedding scenario is a beach for the setting with immediate family only for guests, then everyone can come to a big party later. But if I were to do a more traditional wedding setup, I would easily agree to having something like this for the location. It was gorgeous.
Once my sister and I familiarized ourselves with our station (we were the guestbook attendants), we went in search of Jennifer, our cousin.
I never cry at weddings. And I didn't think I would cry at any point during this weekend. I was wrong.
Jennifer is the closest thing I have to a big sister. She's who I want to be when I grow up: intelligent, gorgeous, well-spoken, funny, and has a closet to die for.
Back track to a little over four years ago. Jennifer had invited me out to Brooklyn (where she was living at the time), and on Christmas I took her up on it saying I would come out for spring break. I'll never forget that week for as long as I live, and one of the reasons why is because that's where I met Warren. Since Jennifer was at work, he was the one who greeted me as my taxi pulled up to the apartment the two of them shared with their friend George and Leo the cat. We stashed my stuff away and the two of us went on adventure that spanned a good chunk of Manhattan where we later met up with Jennifer. A couple nights later on a subway ride back to the apartment from a taping of Letterman, Warren and I ran into someone he knew. He introduced me as "my girlfri--roommate's cousin". The following night over Indian food, again when Jennifer wasn't around, he said he needed to explain the comment he made. He then told me how he watched his friend and roommate at Harvard date Jennifer, and over time Warren fell in love with her. But since the other guy and Jennifer dated for the majority of her time at Harvard, Warren didn't think he'd ever get a chance. Then, lo and behold, Jennifer and the other guy broke up and a couple of years later, Jennifer wanted to move to New York and needed a place to stay and was reunited with Warren.
For the record, I asked Jennifer a couple of months later if she knew they were dating at the that moment in time when I was there for spring break. She said no, so I feel kind of special knowing that they were a couple before she did. Anyway.
I watched Warren's eyes light up as he told his bit of history. I responded by letting him know that I was happy for the two of them, and that I hope that it lasted for a long time, but if it didn't and he was even the tiniest bit at fault, I'd break his kneecaps.
Fast forward to yesterday and to Jennifer walking down the hall towards me in her wedding dress with the light behind her making her gorgeous red hair shine with a huge smile on her face. She looked positively angelic. And it was obvious that she was on the verge of claiming something she's waited for. It was that sight and realization that made me cry tears of joy. Not many, but enough that I made myself walk away before I made her start to cry.
So, to my cousin Jennifer and my new cousin Warren, congratulations and mazel tov. I can't wait to celebrate the highlights of your marriage, and I'll always be here if you need any help I can offer with the times that get rocky. I love you both dearly.
And, if you want, you can read their wedding announcement in the New York Times. The only thing I'm sad it doesn't mention is my Dad's new BFF, Rabbi Hayli who was his co-officiant at the ceremony.