Monumental Love: Rise, But Hold the Shine

When I awoke on Saturday morning, I was first conscious of two things: my throat felt scratchy and there was rain tapping on the window of the hotel room.  

Oh well, no turning back now, right?

View from the bedroom window./Photo by Eau Claire Photographics

Dino and Taco both spent the night in the suite with me, but I woke up on my own and had some quiet time.  First a shower, then I sat down to write a quick post for you guys, my dad brought me a yummy coffee which helped to soothe my throat, and finally I put together my letter for Sphinx.  In the end, I liked leaving it to last minute, because my emotions were more sincere and sappy that way.  As I was finishing up the letter, the activity level in the room started to pick up.

Monumental Love: Ready to Rock & Bowl

So after a crazy morning, we finally made it down to the Windsor Court hotel, where several of us would be staying for the weekend.  We hit the quarter really quickly, so that some of our tourists could purchase some "souvenirs." 

This picture cracks me up - BM Duffy was so excited for her fiance to try the drinks she'd had at Mardi Gras!

Once those important stops were out of the way, we all got changed for the welcome party at Rock 'n' Bowl.  In the lobby, a piano player and singer were entertaining folks in the lounge, and while we were waiting for our car, they started to play "What a Wonderful World."  Daddy P had picked that as our father-daughter dance song, so we got in a little practice in the lobby. 

Monumental Love: Panicking and Primping

To accurately express what went down that Friday morning, I should first explain how things were supposed to go.  First, I was going to treat my bridesmaids to mani-pedis and brunch.  After that, we would go check into the hotel downtown and have a fun-filled day in the French Quarter and meet up with some other friends in from out of town.  In a moment of extremely wishful thinking the week before, I even bought a lovely strapless maxi dress for that day to avoid tan lines because it was sure to be sunny and perfect!  

Let's all say it together now: "Things did not go as planned."  

As soon as I woke up, I knew things were off.  I felt like crud.  Not really a hangover, but just one of those times when some Advil, Gatorade, and a half hour more of sleep would have worked wonders. There was no time for that, though, since we had a schedule to keep.  I powered through the basic tasks of getting ready kind of slowly, but sometime after getting out of the shower, and before the rest of the girls arrived, I learned what an anxiety attack feels like.

Monumental Love: A Dinner of Love & Laughter

We all left the church and headed down to Superior Seafood. The room that Sphinx Mom and Dad reserved was a long, closed in patio that looked out on the St. Charles streetcar line.  

The first thing our guests saw when entering was an adorable spread of pictures put together by Sphinx Mom - including engagement pictures, a framed invitation, and some cute (aka embarrassing) baby pictures of Sphinx and I.  The invitation is in the middle of the table - teal, a chandelier and the phrase "Love and Laughter Before the Happily Ever After."  She couldn't have nailed it any better, amiright?

Apparently middle school team pictures are our downfall: his basketball and my dance team.