You're never fully dressed without a smile

I left work early on Friday to fly to Alabama for Andrew’s brother’s wedding. After unnecessarily power walking to the Metro station, I arrived at the airport really early. Then, to reward myself for three weeks of hard work, I bought an iced coffee and a bag of Famous Amos.

Cheers to the freakin’ weekend.

When I landed in Alabama, I called Andrew. He said he had just arrived at the airport, which surprised me. Andrew? On time? How unusual. He also had to drive six hours from Gulfport, so this made his timing even more impressive.

After a joyous reunion, I told Andrew to sit tight while I changed and freshened my makeup. Conveniently, Andrew now tells me the rehearsal dinner is at 6, not 7. Oops. He also requests that I put my makeup on in the car.

I remind him that I’m a diva and no, I cannot. I again request that he sit tight while I dart into the bathroom and quickly prepare myself to see his entire family.

After brushing off all the Famous Amos crumbs and applying powder, blush, eyeliner, eye shadow and mascara in five minutes, I run out of the bathroom, still sporting sweatpants with my nice red sweater.

We walk to the car, and I patiently wait while Andrew moves all of his crap from the passenger seat. (How long have we been planning today’s sequence of events?)

I wait until we hit the interstate before changing into my stockings and skirt, so that if someone sees me in my underwear, at least they won’t have time to get a good look. (Since my stockings were new, this costume change turned into a very long, stressful ordeal, during which I debated whether I could even squeeze myself into the Barbie-sized apparel. Meanwhile, Andrew is asking me to keep an eye out for Winchester Road and shouting about the need for more obvious street signs.)

By the time we reach the rehearsal dinner, I have managed to fully dress myself and put on some jewelry. I then sat through the rehearsal, freezing and smiling, wondering why Andrew forgot to mention it was an outdoor wedding. I made a mental note to wear layers to the ceremony the next day.

After the rehearsal, we headed inside for dinner. A few more of Andrew’s brothers arrived, including the only two I hadn’t met yet. (There are nine – seven boys, two girls.) Andrew and I walked up to the group, and I introduced myself … to one of the brothers I’d already met.

Me: Hey, I’m Sam!!

Michael: Uhh, yeah, I know. I’m Michael. You and Andrew stayed at my house once.

I laughed and said he looked like Peter in pictures I’d seen. (They all look alike!) I then berated myself for being such a moron. (I’M SUCH A MORON.)

We woke up at 9:30 the next day, because I wanted to eat the hotel breakfast that ended at 10. I made Andrew wake up with me, and we went downstairs to feast on bagels, waffles, chocolate muffins, etc. with his family. Andrew had to head to the wedding early, so I shopped with another Brennan girlfriend, Delores, in the afternoon.

Delores and I planned to ride to the wedding with some of the older Brennans, who weren’t in the wedding. They offered to knock on our door when it was time to leave, but as wedding time drew nearer, we still hadn’t heard a knock.

We headed to the lobby at 3:50. (The wedding is at 5 and about 30 minutes away.) We were told to be there at 4, but seeing as the lobby was empty and, after some research, realizing that all the Brennans had left the building, we concluded that wouldn’t be happening. So, we forgotten girlfriends asked the front desk call us a cab.

The wedding went wonderfully. I was appropriately layered, and I took many opportunities to sit inside and absorb the heat. My trip back was uneventful (aside from a few moments of panic over the size of my carry-on, which I resolved by removing a coat). I did make Andrew wake up and eat breakfast with me at 8 a.m. before dropping me off at the airport this morning. I then hurried off the plane, onto the Metro and power-walked back to my dorm, just so I could sit here on the computer. (I’m not sure why I feel the need to travel with such urgency.)

Anyway, I hope your weekend was panic-free and you didn’t reintroduce yourself to your boyfriend’s brother.