Back from Virginia. The wedding was beautiful. I couldn’t listen to any of the vows or readings or look at anyone because I am a total sap and would start bawling uncontrollably. What I did see and hear was great. Charlottesville is beautiful and all the old friends and other people I met were so nice. Most of the time when faced with intense social situations like this I get really awkward and nervous but the second I sat at the table at the rehearsal dinner I felt like I’d known everyone for 20 years.
We had a bit of a hard time getting there because I (for the 4th time- yeah I’ve done this before) didn’t read the itinerary closely and we went to O’Hare instead of Midway. Not that big of a deal if it hadn’t taken us so long to get out there..
Oh and if it weren’t Friday morning rush hour. I realized the mistake as soon as my foot hit the ground stepping off the train. We got a cab and made it to Midway at 7:45 ( the flight was leaving at 8 ) but the airport was packed. We got on the standby list for a flight at 11 but there were people ahead of us. We got on standby again for a 1pm flight which we finally made. So it was fun morning drinking a couple beers, eating egg mc muffins, doing arts & crafts and trying not to get in a really big fight. After hour 4 in the airport we’d both accepted our fate and tried to make the best of it.
We finally got to DC and picked up our rental car. The good thing is we made it just in time for the rehearsal dinner.
The meal was great, the company was better.
Saturday was a bit better. We went out to lunch with a couple people, walked around the downtown mall and then went to the wedding.
Then to the reception. There were a lot of people there. We ate drank and danced, then to the C & O (Adam was a chef there when he lived in Charlottesville) for a nightcap.
Sunday- Coffee and bagels from Bodo’s. Seriously the best bagels I’ve had in years. I have yet to find a good bagel place in Chicago. They’re all like pretzels or just bready not bagely. After breakfast we got in the car and drove out to Sugar Hollow. We got a little lost but eventually found our way. On the way there we saw a winery.
We stopped and did a tasting, walked around and bought a couple bottles to bring back. Adam had a great idea to buy a couple glasses and a wine opener so we could maybe drink a glass by the river. And we did..
Later in the evening after the extremely relaxing afternoon we met up with the newlyweds and had dinner. Then to the C & O to meet up with a couple other people. I think we managed to go there every night.
Monday- Adam took me around showing me all the places he lived and then we headed back to DC to return the car and get to the airport. This time we had plenty of time.. 2 1/2 hours early. So we got some food and magazines. Just as our plane was going to board they say.. Sorry everyone we’ve been told we have to wait due to weather in Chicago. Another hour.. Then another hour.. Finally get on the plane home and back to our house. Seamus was all happy to see us. Saul had a lovely vacation in Wisconsin.
A really great week, even with all the delays and travel problems. It was totally worth it.