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| First Day of Oneonta |
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| Last day of Oneonta |
That afternoon I babysat for Tac and returned home to pack for the final time before our trip home. We did online check-in and paid for four bags. It was an exhausting day but I felt as though we had accomplished a lot. A great first preschool experience, and now prepared to face the journey home. The next morning, the three of us got in the car and headed to LAX at 4:30 am. My flight was not until 10:30 but I refused to miss another flight out of LAX. I've been there and done that. We arrived and did curbside bag drop (since I already paid online) and then I waltzed through security in about 45 seconds flat. They saw my stroller and just pushed me right on through. No shoe removal, no lines, no fuss. Where was this last time I traveled?? So on the one hand it was great, but on the other hand, now we had 5 hours to kill in the airport. I was prepared though and had plenty to keep George busy. Of course I could not get the portable DVD player to work, and I couldn't find the movie I bought on iTunes to play through the iPad. Sometimes I hate technology. Good thing George likes to color and play with figurines.
We made it through the flight even though there was no movie. Thank you stickers and coloring books. Guess who was at the airport to welcome us….Aunt Lauren!!!! It was a wonderful surprise. We stepped onto the elevator along with a little old lady in a wheelchair and her husband. The doors closed, we made eye contact and realized we had been on the same flight out of LAX. We talked for a few minutes until the nice attendant who pushed her wheelchair politely suggested that we push the down button on the elevator. WELCOME HOME. If there had been some sweet tea and biscuits, we'd have stayed in that elevator for a couple of hours at least. Only in the south would that have happened. We laughed, and pushed the button to go down to baggage claim. There stood GRAMMY!!! George was so very excited to see her, as was I. Thus began our three weeks in NC. That night Grammy made me a wonderful birthday meal of bbq chicken, broccoli and cheesy potato casserole. Lauren came and ate with us. We topped off the meal with a birthday brownie sundae complete with a candle. So tasty and I felt so special! Lauren left us to go back to Chapel Hill and I planned to join her the next day. We all slept well after our busy travel day- exhausted but refreshed by family, good food and being where we belong.
The next day I went to Chapel Hill. And here I must pause and apologize to my readers. I have not mentioned anything about the events of this day or anything that even broaches the subject of what Lauren and I would do today. Waaaay back in January I mentioned in a post that I had some news that I would share as I could. I am sure most of you thought I was pregnant but that was never the case. I am not sure why I didn't mention it sooner. Maybe because its SUCH a big deal and SO special. It is hard for me to write about things that are currently happening to me that are this special. My only sister, my little Lauren, my best friend, my confidant, my professional counselor…..that girl got married on June 15th. I know, I know- most of you were there and it already happened and I should have shared about this earlier. Oh well, I am still learning the rules of the blogosphere.
OK, so now I can say what we did the next day. We went to UNC's campus and did Lauren's bridal shoot. Her photographer is a friend of mine and photographed our wedding also. It was so special to be able to do this with Lauren since I had missed out on so many parties and so much planning. We went to the Arboretum, The Old Well, The Davie Poplar Tree and bench, and to the Graham Memorial Building. It was a very successful day and did not rain one drop, though it threatened to. Here's just a sampling of the hundreds of photos of my beautiful sister in one of the most beautiful settings in the world, our Alma Mater.
Right after we finished I had to rush off to another friend's rehearsal in Angier. I was so thrilled to see this bride too. I missed so much of her plans and parties as well so when I saw her I thought our hug might extend right up until her wedding vows. So good to be reunited with dear, dear friends. After the rehearsal we went to a casual dinner in Angier. If you follow this blog from NC, you might know Angier. California friends, no need to worry, you've never heard of it. We decided on one of the only sit down restaurants in town (easy decision). I got a Reuben and we all shared fried pickles, fried jalapeño poppers, and fried cheese. Warning: the food descriptions from here until I return to Cali will all include something FRIED. I LOVE my state.
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| The bride and groom after the rehearsal-sad to report no fried pickles were left to be photographed |
I returned to Grammy's house and George was already put down for bed. Man it is nice to be home! The next morning I went for a run on the lush greenway. I never thought about the name of this trail until today… the GREENway. It was so incredibly green and bright. Trees as far as the eye could see with bright, wet, green leaves. Oh how I have missed the green and the humidity. I know it sounds strange to miss something that any southerner tries to escape every waking moment from May to September...but I did. I must document that somewhere or I will never believe myself. I must also note that by the time we returned to Cali, the atmosphere was most welcoming and I now have only three weeks to miss the humidity again. That morning after my run, I borrowed Grammy's car and went to the bridesmaid's luncheon for my dear friend J. It was lovely. The food was amazing, the drinks refreshing, the hostess welcoming and the company was fantastic. All the elements of a good Southern bridesmaid's luncheon. J is one of those girls who has lots of great friends from many different avenues of her life. I bonded with her friends and family and would come to enjoy two nights of pure fun with these people. I returned to Raleigh in time for visiting all little George's great grandparents on his daddy's side. We first went to Springmoor where Grammy's parents live. After we spent a few precious moments with them, and played with a few handmade wooden toys -Paw Paw is quite the wood-worker) we headed to Gdaddy's parent's house. There, we got a special treat. Granddaddy Edwards pulled out his trombone and played it for little George. G- Daddy said this was the first time he had ever even seen the instrument and he grew up in this house! It was a full day of social activity and this introvert was exhausted but refreshed at the same time. It had been way too long since I had run in humidity, been to a party without my child, seen my husband's grandparents, or driven on I-40. I was a happy girl that day. I changed clothes and bounced right in the car with G-daddy and he dropped me off at J's Rehearsal dinner: high-school-style- "Bye Pops-thanks for the ride, I'll be home before curfew!" I walked into Raleigh's The Pit and the smell of smoked pork and fried something hit me like a brick. Whoa. It was not long before I found myself at a table with my new friends and their dates. We exchanged names and introductions were made. The meal was family style and a fresh salad appeared. It was great, but I began to feel a little skeptical about this BBQ restaurant. Salad? So next came the biscuits and corn bread. Ok, now we are talkin'. Main course was pulled pork BBQ naked with a choice of eastern and western style sauce (nice touch with the choice, but they can keep the western style) ribs, mac and cheese and…wait for it…..FRIED okra! My favorite favorite favorite food. I think I ate a whole dish of family style okra over the course of the night. After toasts were made and gifts exchanged, we went to another bar to finish off another lovely night with a bunch of lovely folks. How can you not get along after a family style meal complete with biscuits and fried okra. I fell into bed again exhausted but again, refreshed- by okra.
My new friends above and their hilarious men below
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| The beautiful couple at the Rehearsal Dinner |
The next day was her wedding day and it was busy but perfect. The weather cooperated for this outdoor wedding, J looked amazing, E (her now husband) looked at her so lovingly I thought I might just cry, the music was genuine, the ceremony- so meaningful. It made me very excited for my own sister's wedding (though J and I joke that we were always more like sisters than friends). I got to see some faces that I had not seen since college and some faces that I had seen but that I had missed so intensely this year. A great night overall and a ride home with a old friend and some good words were exchanged. I arrived at Grammys house and felt the same way I had felt every day since I have been home: exhausted but refreshed.
Here are some pictures from that evening:
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| The beautiful bride |
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| Here I am bustling her train. Don't judge, it was hot underneath that dress |
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| This girl. |
The next morning everyone went to church except for me. This introvert needed some alone time. I read my Bible as I overlooked the beautiful landscaped back yard and thought, in just a couple of months, this will be my home town. A wonderful few minutes of reflection and everyone was back in the house. We went to lunch at a favorite restaurant and then Lauren picked me up and we headed to Wilmington. My little guy was so tired from all the activity that he actually slept in the car and gave Lauren and I some major sister talk time. Two hours to catch up, get deep, and solve all the world's problems. As I look back this was time to be cherished because for the next two weeks, there would be so much activity in preparation for her wedding that conversations longer than two minutes would become extinct. We arrived at Mama's door and what a happy reunion it was! That night we had grilled chicken over a gorgeous salad, wild rice and sweet tea. For dessert, my childhood favorite dessert: pink pie! We again fell into bed that night finally more refreshed than exhausted.
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