I am on my first real destination wedding! What an experience this is, so freeing to travel on my own after being part of such a 'unit' with my husband. But I do miss him. *Sniff* a little. The trip started out with my fabulous husband driving me to Raleigh for my flight. I had originally planned to go with my best friend, Mary. We dayreamed of talking non-stop for the 12 hour journey, she'd assist me at the wedding, we'd lay beachside next day and just feel young again... but in the end it just couldn't happen. I'm taking a rain check for a weekend with her and all our kids lakeside in the mountains instead. Still good-- I'll trade the margarita craving for Mikes hard lemonade.
So, anyway, we arrive at the airport and thank God my DH walked me in! I go to check in, and no ID. Yipes! That was me in the corner behind the trash bin dumping out my bag, while he ran to the car. My purse it seems had tipped out and what fell to the floor? My ID. whew! I never realized how dependent I've become on my husband. He holds me up and helps me-- I hope I do the same for him.
The airplane ride was too short to ask for a drink, but that was OK in the end because I had so many distractions. I hadn't flown in years (flying a family of 4 anywhere is sooo costly), but had been anticipating the sights. I'm always amazed by the patchwork of land below the plane. Farmers do amazing compositional lines with their tractors, and cities sparkle with car windshields and cyan pools in the backyards of the fortunate. The one thing I always think, and wonder if I'm the only one, is that the parking lots tend to remind me of Frankenstines scars. Like man has tortured the earth here and there and tried to patch it half heartedly. I'm hoping my return flights might yield heavy clouds we can ride above, with sunset peaking though. That's nearly the most beautiful sight in the world.
After a day of flying-- sightseeing and reading all day, not so bad-- I headed toward Naples in my rented Matrix. I opened the windows for a minute on I75, and oh! I had forgotten! The brackish air of seaside Florida. I love this!
Now I find myself sitting in a hotel room in Naples, laptop, wedding gear, thinking wedding thoughts, but toying with my need for a pedicure before what I'm sure will be a beautiful beach wedding. I am seriously considering meeting the bride at the spa, earlier than planned. I've been doing this lately, throwing in bonus time not payed for, because I HAVE to get in the mindset, I have to get a feel for the personalities in each family, they need to be used to me and seeing me before the bride dons her wedding dress. I love how each wedding is unique and I CAN"T wait to do my thing tonight. I'm praying for just a smattering of clouds-- but they say it will be blue skies and humidity all day! Still, it is sure to be an amazing party. See you later!
