Bridesmaids

We just got back from a whirlwind trip to California, in which I watched one of my very best friends ever walk down the aisle and marry the man of her dreams.  It was a lot of fun.  She and I have had a lot of great times together...a wedding kind of takes the cake though, don't you think?

Me (ready to partaaaay, it appears!) and Sara.  She probably won't like this picture but OMG almost every picture I have of us together includes at least one drunk person.  At least I know we are both sober in this picture.

One of my bridesmaids duties (actually, the only duty thanks to a fabulous wedding planner and laid-back bride and the fact that I live several states away) was to give a speech.  I am mostly okay with public speaking, but I need to have a plan - I can't just get up there and wing it.  And so, I wrote out a little speech that, following a glass or two three of wine, went quite well.


I intended on saving the printed copy and giving it to Sara in lieu of a card, but sadly, it was lost during the drunken after-party reception.  But I have it here (and someday I'll let Charles tell you all about the time I asked him to print it out and bring it to the wedding because I never got around to it and there was no internet where he was at so he had to log into my blog, where I had written it, from his phone and then type it into Microsoft Word and print it out as he was supposed to be leaving for the wedding).

Anyway, for my dear Sara, here it is - with my comments in blue (because only like three of you actually know Sara and there could be some holes in this story if you don't know what I'm talking about):

I first met Sara when we were 17 years old.

We were two punk-ass kids who were *way* too cool for junior college.  I know we drove poor Connie (mother of the bride) crazy when Sara would beg her for the afternoon off of work so we could go do spectacular and important things like drive up and down the coast over and over again with our Peach Snapples and Supreme Croissants from Jack in the Box while we blasted bad local punk rock from her poor car's old speakers.

I was a little jealous of Sara because she knew how to drive a stick shift (no, really...I totally was jealous of this).  She'd come pick me up in her 1984 Ford Tempo and we'd waste away the evenings doing meaningless activities that almost never involved homework (which is probably where we should have been placing our efforts).

Although the activities we chose were meaningless (and really, how many times can two girls drive up and down the same five mile stretch of coast, right?), the time we spent together was not.

Sara has always had a spark about her that's drawn me in, and I'm sure Jesika and Valerie would agree.  Many of you know Sara, and I'm sure you'd agree with me as well...you might even agree with me when I say that this "spark" is easily ignited, and when Sara's on fire - you'd better watch out.

And then along comes Mike.  Calm, cool, collected (for real - chillest dude ever).

And we all loved Mike from the beginning.

And we all loved Sara and Mike, together, from the beginning.

Because Mike brings out the best in Sara.  I mean, she's awesome to begin with - we know that - but remember that spark I was talking about?  Mike keeps it glowing.  And he also keeps it in check.

I love them both, and I love them together.

I am grateful that they found each other, fell in love, and maybe most importantly, brought precious little Ally into this world.   And I am honored to be here today, beside my BFF, celebrating this marriage and the bright new future ahead of them.

Congratulations to Sara and Mike!