Important News, Very Very Belatedly!
I'm sitting in Charlottesville, Virginia, watching the start of the Sotomayor confirmation hearings, and I'm wondering how in the hell can this woman sit in her chair so calmly while each senator rambles for ten minutes all while rows of photojournalists sit at her feet clicking away. I sincerely hope that she gets the approval votes, because her demeanor is extremely appealing as a Justice of the Supreme Court. And I haven't even mentioned the positive historical impact that her appointment would provide.
So, it's apparent to you all, my friends, that I have absolutely nothing else to do today, and this fact is due to a few reasons:
Reason the First: I am a high school teacher, and we are in the midst of a lovely summer break.
Reason the Second: Stephen (the formerly S, formerly Mr. UVA, who shall now be known through the nomenclature of "Stephen") is at work
But most importantly...
Reason the Third: I am basically done with wedding planning.
Yes, wedding planning. What I've neglected to do since my March update is announce that less than a week later, on March 13th, the wonderful man that I have been dating for several months staged an elaborate scavenger hunt through Athens, Georgia, which ended with him producing a ring and asking for my hand in marriage.
And, of course, you can guess how I answered. :)
I'm disappointed that I've neglected writing about the whole engagement as well as the subsequent months of finding locations, setting dates, and traveling back and forth every other weekend to see each other. It's been such a unique time in my life.
In other news, my best friend of 25 years was married on June 13th to her boyfriend of five years, my other married friend is starting on the quest of having a child, my heterosexual life partner has settled into an incredible job (for which I am jealous... books smell so good!) and I know she won't be there long as I foresee her moving up and up in the corporate ladder, and another great friend has just recently bought her own house. Changes and happiness are all around me!
My mother and I spent the last two weeks in a whirlwind of vendors, budgets, and fabric. We have officially finished everything except for reception centerpieces, invitation orders, ceremony details, and wedding cakes along with several appointments between now and the wedding itself to solidify plans. Mom and I had so much fun doing all these things, even when we had an argument. The experience is one-of-a-kind, and she sent me a text message on my way up to visit Charlottesville for two weeks that she'd had fun and loved spending the time with me.
So, on December 19th of this year, I will be a happily married woman. We have such a sturdy relationship that goes beyond traditional definitions, and I am truly at peace in his company.
He and I spent our late morning in bed yesterday talking about our pasts, fate, free will, and predestination. I enjoy his points of view. He's quite open-minded and understanding to my approaches to life, and I enjoy being wholly and blatantly honest about my thoughts and beliefs with him.
But, following our conversation, I can't help but marvel at how the choices and decisions we make lead us toward the right decisions. How even when both decisions appear wrong, no matter what choice you make, eventually you will find your own right path. And while I don't believe in predestination, since I follow the doctrine of free will and, thus, (a) fallible divine being(s), I do believe in guiding ideas known as conscience to show us the best choices to make, so that we may find those opportunities, places, and people who are best for our lives.
And due to my many, many choices, both good, bad and sometimes both, here I sit. With a ring on my left hand. Sitting in a townhouse into which he recently moved, and preparing to be a wife to a future husband. After so many years of struggle and fighting, it feels like a reward to be settled, for once.
The universe is brilliant and beautiful, and I've reached an understanding of it. I now know that I will listen to my instincts and trust my decisions, because the world will give me what I want.
So, it's apparent to you all, my friends, that I have absolutely nothing else to do today, and this fact is due to a few reasons:
Reason the First: I am a high school teacher, and we are in the midst of a lovely summer break.
Reason the Second: Stephen (the formerly S, formerly Mr. UVA, who shall now be known through the nomenclature of "Stephen") is at work
But most importantly...
Reason the Third: I am basically done with wedding planning.
Yes, wedding planning. What I've neglected to do since my March update is announce that less than a week later, on March 13th, the wonderful man that I have been dating for several months staged an elaborate scavenger hunt through Athens, Georgia, which ended with him producing a ring and asking for my hand in marriage.
And, of course, you can guess how I answered. :)
I'm disappointed that I've neglected writing about the whole engagement as well as the subsequent months of finding locations, setting dates, and traveling back and forth every other weekend to see each other. It's been such a unique time in my life.
In other news, my best friend of 25 years was married on June 13th to her boyfriend of five years, my other married friend is starting on the quest of having a child, my heterosexual life partner has settled into an incredible job (for which I am jealous... books smell so good!) and I know she won't be there long as I foresee her moving up and up in the corporate ladder, and another great friend has just recently bought her own house. Changes and happiness are all around me!
My mother and I spent the last two weeks in a whirlwind of vendors, budgets, and fabric. We have officially finished everything except for reception centerpieces, invitation orders, ceremony details, and wedding cakes along with several appointments between now and the wedding itself to solidify plans. Mom and I had so much fun doing all these things, even when we had an argument. The experience is one-of-a-kind, and she sent me a text message on my way up to visit Charlottesville for two weeks that she'd had fun and loved spending the time with me.
So, on December 19th of this year, I will be a happily married woman. We have such a sturdy relationship that goes beyond traditional definitions, and I am truly at peace in his company.
He and I spent our late morning in bed yesterday talking about our pasts, fate, free will, and predestination. I enjoy his points of view. He's quite open-minded and understanding to my approaches to life, and I enjoy being wholly and blatantly honest about my thoughts and beliefs with him.
But, following our conversation, I can't help but marvel at how the choices and decisions we make lead us toward the right decisions. How even when both decisions appear wrong, no matter what choice you make, eventually you will find your own right path. And while I don't believe in predestination, since I follow the doctrine of free will and, thus, (a) fallible divine being(s), I do believe in guiding ideas known as conscience to show us the best choices to make, so that we may find those opportunities, places, and people who are best for our lives.
And due to my many, many choices, both good, bad and sometimes both, here I sit. With a ring on my left hand. Sitting in a townhouse into which he recently moved, and preparing to be a wife to a future husband. After so many years of struggle and fighting, it feels like a reward to be settled, for once.
The universe is brilliant and beautiful, and I've reached an understanding of it. I now know that I will listen to my instincts and trust my decisions, because the world will give me what I want.