Today I got to be around for most of life's major transitions. Today was the memorial services for a friend's father, who passed away unexpectedly after a short hospitalization. While I did not attend the service I was still there in spirit supporting my friend and his family. DW did attend the service, partially because he does better with the funeral/memorial service thing than I do (mostly due to the fact that he used to do a great number of funerals as a bagpiper).
Then when he got home from the memorial service he asked me, "So, what are you wearing to Michael and Ericka's wedding?" Now, don't get me wrong, I love weddings - but I had not intended on going to this wedding, mostly because I had never received an invitation. These are friends that I see every week, and I had been around when they talked about the wedding plans, helped be a shoulder to cry on when the emotional turmoil of graduation followed immediately by a wedding, but I had never been expressly invited and I didn't receive a written notice or invitation of any kind. As I found out from DW and from others, the bride and groom didn't send out invitations or expressly invite anyone from the group of us that meets on a weekly basis - they had simply assumed that we knew we were welcome. Once again, remember that I consider these to be some of my good friends, however, I was raised by a mother and a grandmother who believed that even if every other person ignored it, etiquette was still relevant in the 21st century. Anyways... small rant aside I ran around finding an outfit that was suitable for going to a wedding, realized that I didn't have any shoes that went with that outfit, or with that color family. So I went to Payless and got these:
And let me tell you, I felt so fab in these shoes. I don't normally wear heels... never been my thing for more then about an hour, but these were great! So I felt great, the bride and groom looked great, and the ceremony was lovely. After that we went to the reception, which was set up as a summer barbecue with all kinds of sausages, potato salad, corn etc. Got to see a number of people that I hadn't really seen since the end of High School which was cool, including a friend who was 9 months pregnant and was technically due the next day! That's about when I realized how much I had lost touch with some people, as I hadn't even know that that friend was pregnant!! But all in all the wedding was awesome and I'm really glad that I "crashed".
The end of my day was spent with the youth group at the First UU Congregation of Ann Arbor. I was there representing the Campus Ministry that is sponsored by the congregation at the youth group's Bridging Ceremony. The ceremony marks the graduation of members from high school and many times, their imminent departure for colleges out of town. This year they were also welcoming in the transitioning 8th graders who would be joining the youth group as 9th graders, as well as bidding farewell to one of the advisors who is stepping down, and the new advisor who is taking their place. All in all it was a very nice ceremony and I was glad I was able to help.
Well, I've had enough fun and transitions today. Off to get some sleep and get ready for work tomorrow, bleh - sometimes I hate being an adult....