Wedding Fever
Oh my wow.

Small chapel. Gorgeous dress. Beautiful music. Great menu. Amazing wine. Happy people. Sappy music.

Speeches. Smiles. Photos. Desserts. Champagne. Laughter. Nostalgia. Memories. Hope.

All the grace and kindness in the world. An incredibly great wedding. Even though I keep saying "thank you" (for the invitation, for the inclusion, for the experience, for the expensive food and wedding gifts), they keep thanking me for coming. You're kidding! As if it were a hassle?

Even the after-party was great. Meeting the entire Ito-family. Like I said, my host dad has 6 siblings and several brought spouses so it was quite the cozy gathering. I managed all right even though my language centers eventually failed. After an entire day of listening to Japanese I was no longer able to speak it. That there are so many words I do not and probably never will know both fascinates and frustrates me. Language is amazing.

But now, right now, oh, all I want to do is get married. This must be akin to the hormonal fury driven into women after they attend their friend's first baby shower. Between Katie and Dave's engagement announcement and this incredible wedding, I spent the whole day encased in a cloud of nupital dreams. I had to try really, really hard not to burst out crying (for what reason?!?!) at my host brother's wedding! I barely know the man (heck, he is cute)... but they both looked SO, so happy. So right.

*blissful sigh*

Grah! I wish I had the words to tell my family what it meant to me that they included me in all this. I wish they would stop thanking me for coming with them... it only embarrasses and further indebts me. But ahh, that's Japanese culture for you!

Now, it's back to the drawing board. Another week through which to slog... another weekend waiting at the end.