Goin' to the Chapel

The past couple weeks have been wild...but not in a good way.

Although I’ve been working from home four-days a week, I am putting in way more time than usual. It’s not just me, it’s my co-workers too since we are assigned to the same study. Sadly, it's not uncommon for Paulette, Krista and I to be IMing each other late into the night (and sometimes early into the morning) since we're all up working. I am utterly exhauted and I’ve decided that after today my weekends are off limits. I am a single parent and I have a kiddo who wants to spend time with me and I need to take advantage of that.

One day this week John picked me up for lunch at LaGrolla. The weather has been so incredible that we decided to eat on the patio. I got my usual, and forced him to order what Jordan had previously. We were famished so we also split the Insalta Isabella salad; it was so good that I swear the waiter could see the drool dripping down our chins. This was John's first trip to LaGrolla and even though he loved it, it ended up causing him some intestinal discomfort later that night. Anyone hear of Colon Blow?

He's finally wearing the Omni Peace t-shirt I got him!

Mushu went to the vet this week due to an ear infection. Our (now dead) Cocker Spaniel had them nearly every month due to his long ears so I guess we’re lucky that this is only the second one Moosh has had (she was being treated for one when we adopted her). The office staff was surprised to see her since she only visits them once a year for her shots. My beloved vet told me that ear infections are all he’s been seeing this time of year and was shocked that Moosh hasn’t had more of them. I guess Shar Pei’s are prone to them. After cleaning out the goop from her ears (EW!), he told me once again what a great dog she is (he has always loved my little chunk of a mixed breed!) and sent me on my way with a $34 tube of Gunk-Be-Gone.

I haven’t seen Angie in quite a while so we met for a late lunch/early dinner after she left the McCain/Palin rally in Blaine (I know, I know!). Angie is so wonderful with Jordan (really, the best) that she invited her along. We decided to eat on the terrace of the Liffey (the same restaurant we had dinner with Rick Springfield, or rather, he ate while we gazed at him from another table). We each ordered a drink and sat down to chat…that is, until Jordan noticed the bees. For the rest of the meal, she was stuck to me like glue, sure she was going to be stung. After our meal, even though we were stuffed to the gills, we stopped at A Piece of Cake on Grand for dessert. Except for the bees and my newly acquired Siamese twin, the night was filled with laughter and over-due conversation.

Let me tell you about my friend Khara. Khara started at MGI a month of two before me. We were both roped into planning a little work-related soirée with a crazy person so we bonded instantly. Through this experience, however, I learned that we had much in common. Politically, we are on the same wavelength. She is informed more than anyone I know. She is an animal activist, having raised horses all of her life and spent many years working at a vet clinic. She is a caregiver and survivor, handling all that life throws at her with perseverance and dignity. In a typical morning we cover the world within the first five minutes of arriving at work, smoothly going from conversations about politics to celebrities to cancer and back again. No matter how important or mundane the subject matter, Khara knows what she’s talking about. I have no idea how she does it all, but she does it with grace and she will forever hold my highest respect.

We were both laid off on the same day from MGI (along with 100 or so others). We stayed in touch, of course, as she took a different job and I started at i3. Within a few months I was nagging her and Paulette to join me and to my great joy, they did! Throw John and Krista into the mix and we had a little happy work group.

Now back to Khara….she became engaged in Paris last year when Saul, her then boyfriend, popped the question in the apple orchard at the Luxembourg Gardens with a ring he stashed away in their luggage.

She’s been the calmest bride I’ve even seen, somehow fitting in cake tastings and dress fittings while working ungodly hours. Me being the anxiety-ridden, anal-retentive being that I am somehow took on the stress she wasn’t showing and starting dreaming of her wedding...every...single…night.

Honestly, I don’t know why. I have no misgivings about this union whatsoever. They’ve done it right and it is right. I have never seen a man look at a woman the way Saul looks at Khara…and they’ve been together seven-years now! He truly adores her. They are tender with one another without being smothering. They are friends. They talk. Not only do they love one another, they like each other. This is a couple that truly compliments one another.

September 20 rolled around quickly and even a week before Khara told me, “Expect cold and rain”, but someone was looking down upon her outdoor wedding and gave her an absolutely beautiful day. The weekend before it rained nonstop, but this day – Khara’s wedding day – it was a sun-drenched 79 degrees. The wedding was outside at her father’s house in Medina with the wildlife and trees surrounding us sporting orange and red leaves. Jordan and I arrived a little early so while we waited for Krista and Paulette to arrive, I decided to take some pictures. Soon after, Khara came over and my eyes instantly filled with tears. She was so incredibly beautiful, looking as if she just stepped off the pages of Modern Bride magazine. Although she had shown me pictures of her dress, they didn’t do it justice. It was perfect and so was Khara – classy, flowing and elegant.

The arrangements Khara chose came from the Farmer’s Market and consisted of hydrangeas, sunflowers and roses in autumn hues.

The appetizers and main meal were Mediterranean. The music was a string quartet and even included my very favorite piece, Pachebel. The minister spoke of their friendship and passed the rings to each guest for their blessing.

After the ceremony were horse-drawn carriage rides.

During the reception there was an open mic for people to speak. At one point Saul stood, thanking their friends and families, then looked at Khara and thanked her for becoming his wife.

This is one guy who knows how lucky he got.