Family Fun. And a Boda Mexicana.

Today was good. I went to the most hilarious wedding EVER with my family. My brother was asked to be the best man YESTERDAY for his best friend Fernando's wedding TODAY. HILARIOUS. So we put my 6'5 brother in his best Sunday looking outfit and sent him to the Catholic church. We rushed around, knowing we were going to be late... only to find out that we were one of the first people there. Did I mention Fernando is Mexican? I traveled to Mexico for months at a time, and even I had forgotten the cultural difference regarding TIME. When you have an event in Mexico at 1:00, it is only polite to come at approximately 1:15... which is what everyone else did.

The ceremony lasted a good two hours... it happened to be a baptism too, so I'm guessing it was extra long. The dresses were beautiful, and there were TONS of gorgeous babies to look at. Plus the groom is just the most adorable little guy ever, and watching him kneel next to his young little beautiful bride brought tears to my eyes. There's something about Mexican families that just warms my heart. Two high school kids, getting married on the same day they baptize their new baby. Aunts, cousins, parents, grandparents, neighbors are all there watching. All in their fancy clothes (I think a lot of the women were in what resembled very colorful prom dresses... totally not my style, but BEAUTIFUL). Cameras were everywhere, and in fact, my mother took a picture of a scene where more people were surrounding the ceremony with cameras and videos cameras than there were people actually IN the ceremony. Kids talked the whole time. People got up and walked around. Babies cried. We kneeled. We sang. We prayed. It was loud and long. But for some reason, I was just really touched by this day.

Oh yeah, my mom and I did, of course make slight fools of ourselves. Apparently at Catholic weddings (maybe Mexican Catholic weddings) they pass around an offering plate... My stepdad had taken Ava out a long time before because we thought she would be a distraction (What a joke, she would have been the quietest child in there), and he was the one with all the cold hard CASH. We were obviously in a panic, and all I had in my purse was deoderant, a hotel room key, some receipts, and a William Jewell medallion (don't ask). I somehow managed to scrounge up 35 cents, so at least we looked like we were putting something in the bucket. BUT... when it came to us, we noticed that someone else had put their wedding card in instead of cash. BRILLIANT!!!! We figured it was a gift to the bride and groom anyways, so we quickly dropped our card in the plate.

Then my brother said it was an offering to the church and we were complete idiots. He had to get one of the little ring bearers to go ask the kind lady for our card back.

Did I mention that my mother and I tend to laugh really loudly in awkward situations or when we are nervous or embarrassed? Well... we do. I almost peed my pants.

And tonight we had a get together with my family. As crazy as they are, and as loud and long the night was... it was SO nice to see everyone. This is exactly what I needed. TO COME HOME.

And in case you're wondering, I'm doing much better than I was the other night. That dumb movie just really put me in a funk!

Night,
Erin

27 Dresses

I guess "they" deleted my previous blog. I guess I forgot about the previous blog. I guess I thought I didn't need to write. But I do.

I write when I have "aha" moments... or when I am sad... or when I am thankful... or when I am just FULL of thoughts.

Tonight I am a little bit of all those things... Just to sum it up, since I'm new to this, and we have a whole lot of catching up to do... Here is a list of what is going on in my life:

1.) I have decided to change my life plan. Communication/Spanish Major, Non-profit leadership Minor... goes to work for a healthcare software company for ONE year. Then decides to go to Medical School. And off I go, sitting in 7:00 a.m. class next to a bunch of sweaty, chubby faced, beer breath 18 year old boys... But I'm loving it. If I could only get some sleep.

2.) I am about ready to watch my family MULTIPLY, as my parents are adopting two (I would say something else, but I can't because it's still a secret) beautiful babies... "A" and "A" as my mom calls them on her blog, are seriously the best things EVER.

3.) Nope, not getting married anytime soon. Thought I would seriously be married with a kid popped out by now... living in a suburb somewhere with a white picket fence. Claire Francis (my lovely little border collie pit bull) would maybe even have a playmate. But that is not where I am. And if you have ever read my dating memoir, you'll know that things haven't really gotten any better since. I've been a dataholic... dated jerks, pigs, crazies, sweethearts, smelly ones, cute ones, hairy ones, bald ones, old ones, married ones (I didn't know he was married thank you very much... WHAT AN ASS), immature ones, self-centered ones, ones with Daddy complexes, ones with MOMMY complexes, jealous ones, seriously intelligent ones, emotionally unavailable ones, ones who I thought I could LOVE. But obviously I didn't. Here I am.

4.) I have a roommate now who I love. There is a reason she is living with me. We both have a really rough year ahead, so it's a GOD thing that she is here to get me through it and I am here to help her survive.

5.) I'm watching 27 Dresses... for the second time tonight. Not the movie that I should have watched, considering I'm in a really foul mood.... and I actually had to delete the remaining statements. Wow, I'm crabby!

6.) I did a triathlon this summer. Almost died, but I LOVED it. Then I signed up for another one... and I skipped it.

7.) I really just want to go live in Haiti in a grass hut and take care of people. Or go work in the Kansas City Free Health Clinic. Or maybe save the world or something. I really just need to pass my pre-med classes... and get rid of my superficial selfishness.

8.) I go from literally working out two hours a day and eating well... feeling great... to chowing on Taco Bell, popsicles, pudding, noodles, peanut butter, and basically whatever I can get my hands on. I think I'm really struggling right now. With self confidence, body image, you know the normal stuff. Just struggling.

9.) I've been in 5 weddings now... brought a date to one of them (the man I thought I would have children with), and all that did was solidify the fact that HE WAS NOT THE ONE. Since then, I've just taken advantage of the open bars and/or skeeted out as early as possible.

10.) Did I tell you I shouldn't have watched this stupid movie? What a Debbie Downer.