Last chance

After finishing 368 wedding favors Friday night with help from some dear friends, I decided to sleep in Saturday and spend the day lounging -- perhaps my last chance to do so before the nuptials arrive.

I sipped my coffee slowly, changed from PJs into some equally comfy lounge clothes and took my time. It felt good knowing I had no appointments to keep, no one to meet, nowhere to go.

The day was a puzzle to be put together the way I saw fit. And it was a good fit.

quack, quack, QUACK!

Each sipping our own refreshing, frozen creation from Starbuck's, my college pal J. and I took an hour for "we" time. The two of us left work behind and walked around a lake tucked away from the busy Denver streets, soaking in this gloriously warm and sunny late October day.

And in mid-sentence, J. was charged by a rather large and seemingly angry goose. Suddenly, we were 13 again, grabbing each other's hand while running and squealing in the other direction.

I guess that foul fowl had enough of our stories.

Bula, vinaka!

Arrived today by FedEx overnight mail: Two round trip tickets to Nadi, Fiji. I can almost smell the warm ocean breeze.

And, finally, it seems like an appropriate time for a countdown. (To the honeymoon, of course! Subtract seven days for the wedding countdown.)

45 days

Reunion

People change. People stay the same.

It was on Saturday afternoon when this reality hit me. I was at a wedding at my old church, which since has been gutted to create a reception hall beside its massive new worship structure.

I saw old friends, old acquaintances. New hairstyles. Old hairstyles. New babies. Laughter reminiscent of my younger days brought a hint of a smile to my face. Women stood in the flesh that previously housed eager little girls. Boys had become men.

And after nearly eight years have passed, some things just stay the same.