I'm home. Safe. Despite swimming a rapid and nearly being washed out of camp a night or two. (Thanks for the concern, Jeremy.)
But tales will have to wait.
I can't seem to remember the fabulous about the trip, when a wonderful friend of mine told me some terrible news tonight.
Please keep my friend's mom in your thoughts and prayers. Her family's been through too much already. They need a miracle about now.
To be nobody but yourself -- in a world which is doing its best,
night and day, to make you like everybody else -- means to fight
the hardest battle which any human being can fight,
and never stop fighting.
e.e. cummings
The phone rang. My stomach flipped. A grin spread across my face.
It could have been either of them. They both said they would call. And I was looking forward to talking to both of them.
The butterflies subsided as I looked at the caller id. It was my friend calling to talk about the trip.
Our conversation was interesting and entertaining, as it always is. Reminding me that friendship is the most important thing. Reminding me that someday I want to find a guy that is as easy to talk to as he is.
Someday was not tonight. Neither called. Why do they say they will, then not follow through? Why not just say I'll talk to you later instead of I'll call you tonight?
I'm not entirely sure how, but my only weekend at home not sick since March left me no time at all for actually being at home.
Between happy hours and BBQs, between cd release parties and trip planning beers, and of course Mother's Day festivities, my weekend slipped away. All of it was extremely fun. But it left me feeling overwhelmed.
Now I have to get ready for a garage sale and the trip in just a few evenings. Evenings also packed with plans. Dinners and shows and softball games. Tales to tell from each.
But just writing about it makes me feel exhausted.
Sitting around the biggest table they had, with the family, being offered a Mother's Day rose, despite the fact that, as my brother quickly pointed out, I am not a mother.
As everyone was passing around and opening cards, I just sat there watching. Then my Dad handed me a card. From TheDog. It was sappy, and made me tear up a little.
I looked over at my mom to tell her thank you, and she smiled knowingly back.
The card I gave her said something about her making me who I am today. It is so true. She is an amazing woman, despite our differences of opinion on occassion. And I am a lucky, lucky daughter.
After brunch most of us spent the rest of the day at "Grandma and Grandpa's" playing with my nieces and the dogs.
The perfect way to spend Mother's Day, as far as my mom is concerned. I'd have to agree with her this time.
Wheresoever you go, go with all your heart.
Confucius
I finally got to see my sis. She finally felt better. Better enough to join my mom and I for dinner before the show.
Dinner was fantastic. The show was nothing to write (home) about. But the time with my mom and sister was wonderful.
We talked about Mother's Day, and Father's Day plans. Began planning for a baby shower.
My sister looks great. That glowing pregnant great. And happy. Really happy.
I'm so very happy that she's happy. That everything is alright with her and the little one.
A game with new and old friends. It was supposed to be partly about figuring out the trip. We got to talking and laughing and perhaps drinking a few too many beers. We forgot about the planning.
We leave in a little over a week. I'm trying to figure out a few things. But there doesn't seem to be a sense of urgency on his part. Maybe mine is because my friends keep asking what the deal is.
I don't like not knowing. I'm the information-sign-on-my-head girl. I know things.
Maybe I should just plan things, and let everyone know what I decided.
We dragged ourselves out of bed the next morning and headed for coffee. Then, realizing checkout was much nearer than we thought, we quickly packed.
After saying goodbye to a couple of the girls until the wedding, we checked our bags with the hotel, and wandered up the strip in search of a little hair o' the dog. In the blazing desert sun.
By the time we found a patio with tables shaded by umbrellas, I could no longer fathom ingesting any sort of alcohol. S was in even worse shape than I was. Our old was most certainly acting up again.
While the other girls enjoyed their margaritas, S and I drank what the waiter called all the water in the desert.
Then as the bachelorette and her maid of honor tried their luck with the room credits, before catching their flight, the rest of us, with an even later flight, decided to relax (read: pass out) by the pool.
Waiting in the terminal for our flight, it was obvious that we had done Vegas right. We'd arrived full of hopes and expectations for a fun-filled weekend. We left depleted and on the wagon. Well, at least for a day or so.
After a little early morning confusion over a surprise-for-the-bachelorette reservation, we grabbed coffee and a quick breakfast.
Then a few of us headed to the pool, and got settled in, ready to surprise the bride. To hear her tell it, she was wondering how you get so lucky as to lounge in the poolside pavilions as they walked up, and was pleasantly surprised to find we'd arranged just that for her day of celebration.
Our waitress was very attentive to our sangria and margarita needs, as we got down to the business of a little lingerie shower. You might think that seven girls on a large bed surrounded by columns, oohing and ahhing over lingerie, might draw a little attention. But apparently not so much in Vegas.
We played a little Texas Hold 'em amongst ourselves, betting drinks for later that night. Telling tales from college, and laughing at all the silly things we used to do. And still do.
After a very long day in the sun, some of the girls left to shop, and some of us napped in preparation for our big night out.
Dressed in our Vegas finest, we headed to the opposite end of the Strip for dinner, dancing, and whatever else the night might have in store. Those of us not allergic to feathers were adorned in boas, all were ready for a few flirtations and a little fun.
It wasn't until the gorgeous bartender made our espresso martinis that we started to have hope that the tales of the trip might include a cute guy. We had been a bit disappointed by the "scenery" thus far.
Then, while walking through the casino in search of a specific type of table that I'm not sure I ever quite caught the name of, we were stopped by guys there for a bachelor party. As we chatted, one in particular seemed to be insistent that I needed another drink.
We were talking with another of my friends, and he insisted he buy us both drinks, not wanting to be rude, we obliged. And while walking to the bar, two more of our group joined, and the poor guy ended up buying a round for me and half our bachelorette party, saving me from paying up on my earlier poker drink debt.
He seemed nice, and continued buying not only me, but my friends drinks. So, we continued to hang around with all of them.
We danced. We talked. At one point he kissed me on the dance floor.
Despite his friends insistence that we should continue hanging out, I wish I could tell you the outcome was better than my last Vegas trip. Well, he was also not-so-single. (Why am I a magnet for unavailable guys?)
Eventually some of the girls wanted to go home. S insisted she wanted to stay out and dance. (Most funny if you know she really doesn't like to dance.) I was having fun, so I said I'd stay, too. As did our other, more inebriated friend.
So, given the single girls, and it bears mentioning, the three least-sober, were planning on staying, the bride-to-be stayed to make sure we all got back eventually.
It's not as terrible as it seems, she is the most late-night person I know, and was entertained by our not-sober shenanigans. (Or at least I rationalized that at the time. Later she told me she felt as if she was herding cats.)
We stayed for a while. Wandering through the casino. Talking to inappropriate guys. At least I knew to turn down yet another drink.
Eventually, we grabbed a cab. And as S and I weaved back and forth down the hall to our room just shy of 6am, I knew it was the beginnings of a rough day.
