SIX(TY):
The number of times Carl mentions Lance Armstrong or the Tour de France in a day. We are stopping by a stage of the Tour when we arrive in Switzerland and Carl is beyond thrilled to go. It is quite possible he’ll forget what he originally went to Europe for (to marry me) and join the Lance Armstrong Caravan instead. He even says he can’t take off his Livestrong bracelet for the wedding because, “it’s the last day of the race, and Lance needs my support!”
FIVE: The number of shots I took, or the number of times I got sick, after my bachelorette party. It was a lot of fun, but I’m not conditioned for that kind of fun anymore. We went to a winery and did a wine tasting. It wasn’t your stuffy wine tasting with your “swirl, sniff, and sip”. It was more like, “pour, guzzle, and repeat”. Our wine tasting guy was an eccentric fellow who told us he is the roofie king, as he was pouring us multiple glasses of wine and filling his own glass up even fuller. I had a great time, even though I lost the use of my legs by the end of the night. A couple pictures from the night…
Four: The number of days until we leave for our trip. I’m SO excited that I can barely eat or sleep. I wake up at 3am every night thinking about things I need to accomplish before we go, but then ADD kicks in and I start thinking about the Disney Channel and how the Disney Channel Original Movie, ‘The Princess Protection Program’, was not as good as I thought it was going to be. And then I start debating with myself about the quality of television programming I watch, and whether or not grown adults should be anticipating great things from movies that originate from the Disney channel in the first place. Before I know it, it is 5 am and my alarm clock is about to go off in 30 minutes.
THREE: The number of fittings I had before I picked up my dress. I decided to keep the dress I originally purchased and just make it work. After it was altered down to my correct size (or, close enough), it looked much better. There are a few things I would change if we had time, but we don’t, so I’m not going to fixate on the little things right now. I’m happy with my dress!
TWO: The number of successful bridal showers I have had. My side of the family and Carl’s side of the family threw me a bridal shower, and I loved them both! Both parties were fun and had delicious bridal shower food. I seriously LOVE bridal shower food, mostly because they are loaded with carbs and no one will give me the one-eyebrow-lifted-look-of-shame to make me feel guilty that I am inhaling so many carb-filled foods in one sitting, because it's MY party! I’m still in so much shock that people went to all that trouble for me (us). I’m not used to getting that kind of special treatment. It sure is fun being a bride!
![Picture026-3[1] Picture026-3[1]](http://hisnhertowels.typepad.com/.a/6a0105351a4476970c011571eeaa80970b-800wi)
(YES! I LOVE pizza cutters!)
![Picture143-1[1] Picture143-1[1]](http://hisnhertowels.typepad.com/.a/6a0105351a4476970c011570f9db9c970c-800wi)
(piling on way too much food, but getting away with it because it's MY party!! Love shower food!)
ONE: The number of potential wedding DISASTERS we may have. First we were told that the legal documents that the church in Italy needed to review and approve for our marriage were lost! They were just sent to the wrong church, they should be making their way to the correct church now, but we still haven’t heard if our wedding is approved or not yet. Time is running out, and I am getting really nervous!!!
And finally….
FIFTEEN! The number of days before I am legally (hopefully) wed. Sometimes I think about all the things that we have done, and all the things that people have gone out of their way to do for us, just because we are getting married, and I get a little embarrassed. People have thrown us wonderful showers and parties in our honor, we are planning a wedding where we are asking people to travel across the world for us, and the weirdest part to me, making a list of gifts that people can give to us just for getting married. I’ve had a great time, and I appreciate all that everyone has done, but I just feel so silly. All of this just for me (and Carl)? What did we do to deserve this?
And then I have to remind myself that this is not just a WEDDING, but it is a MARRIAGE. I am going to be marrying the man I love the deepest, making the biggest commitment one can make, and giving myself completely into the role of being a wife. I take marriage very seriously, but I forget sometimes that when we are celebrating a wedding we are really celebrating the marriage of husband and wife. I have to remind myself that our wedding is a big deal; it’s the day we are going to be married. That means something.