A picture of me.
In a wedding dress.
With the goofiest grin on my face you have ever seen.
Leading me to realize that I might have forgotten to mention the proposal.
The one that took place over Labor Day weekend.
After a day of looking at rings.
Which was only supposed to be a day of looking at rings.
You know – just to get an idea of what the personal preferences may be.
But then, there he was. After a long hike on a beautiful day. Down on one knee. Unexpected and out of the blue.
Asking Loo to marry him.
You didn’t actually think I was talking about me here did you?
After admitting just yesterday that 90210 influenced my dating life in all the wrong ways?
No. I most certainly was not talking about me.
Let’s face it – We’ll be lucky if I manage to get a ring on my finger by 40.
And even then, I’ll probably have to buy it myself.
But my dear friend Loo?
She’s another story entirely.
Good and kind and funny and beautiful and warm and genuine and…
Engaged.
Remember those lists Loo and I wrote on New Year’s Eve? The ones where we detailed what we wanted from our future loves, and then sent off into the universe in a little burning ritual next to a pair of ice sculptures.
Well, Loo met her “one” just a few months later. And within a week of dating him, she was asking me to be a bridesmaid.
I laughed at her of course. This is my friend who is a hopeless romantic and sees a happily ever after in every first kiss. I thought for sure she was jumping the gun on this one.
But here we are.
Her engaged.
And me trying on wedding dresses.
But only the ugly ones.
And only because she didn’t want to be putting on dresses by herself.
Quick tid-bit of information: It turns out that bridal shops aren’t too keen on women who aren’t actually getting married trying on their dresses.
Who knew?
Still, they humored us.
While Loo tried on beautiful, sleek dresses that gave her a perfect silhouette, I tried on gaudy, poufy dresses that couldn’t have been more different in terms of what my actual wedding “style” would be.
Because when, and if, I do actually get married – I can pretty much guarantee you it will be barefoot on a beach in a $40 sundress with hair and makeup that were done in 30 minutes or less.
But don’t tell the bridal consultants who tried so hard to put up with us yesterday that.
They kind of take their jobs pretty seriously.
Apparently weddings are a big deal.
This wedding is pretty much already planned.
Entirely.
Because my Loo is one of those girls who has been planning her wedding since she was 6.
The date is set, the photographer booked, and the bridesmaids (all 8 of us) confirmed.
Did I mention the blessed event will be taking place in Texas?
Where Loo will be moving in just a little over a month.
For both her man, and a new job.
And her family and everything else that are also in Texas waiting for her.
Where I am not.
So, it’s bittersweet for me.
Because while I am beyond enthused for my friend and her happily ever after (and that little piece of paper we burned off into the air that seemed to do a bit of good for at least one of us – the jury’s still out on whether or not it worked for both of us), I am also heartbroken over having to say goodbye.
She’s my best friend up here.
And while I have other friends – other girls I cherish with all my heart – Loo is my… well, she’s my Loo.
And I hate goodbyes.
So, while most of the wedding preparations are going to have to take place thousands of miles away from me (making it impossible for me to be as involved as I would like to be), we chose to take yesterday out as the first day of wedding dress shopping.
To give me at least a piece of the action I could claim as my own.
Today also happens to be Loo’s birthday.
So we got in some celebration as well.
Since it’s likely going to be the last birthday of either of ours we’ll be able to celebrate together.
Did I mention that I hate goodbyes?
And gaudy wedding dresses.
But I love my Loo.
One of my closest friends in this world.
Engaged.
Growing up.
Getting married.
And leaving Alaska.
All because of a ring on her finger.
And a man on one knee asking for forever.
It’s funny how quickly things can change
Happy birthday Loo!
I can’t wait until we get to celebrate your happily ever after!
Even if it is in Texas.
