One year ago today, Mister and I attended a beautiful wedding in Santa Barbara, California. As I sit here remembering, a few highlights keep replaying in my mind.

 

I loved the beautiful location. The Sunken Gardens of the historic Santa Barbara Courthouse were green and vibrant. The white chairs, set against the manicured lawn, were inviting and welcoming.

 

I loved the groom. To see him cry as the bride made her first appearance was one of the most romantic moments I’ve had the pleasure to eavesdrop.

 

I loved the bride. She is someone I adore beyond words, and someone I am privileged to know. She is blessed with more light than most of us, and on that day, her beauty was amplified to the point of taking my breath away.

 

I loved their story. I loved that they had fallen in love, as teenagers do, then drifted apart, as teenagers do. I loved that they had each traveled the globe, experienced life’s highs and lows, and then somehow managed to cross paths – again. And – this is my favorite part – I love, love, love how they embraced their feelings for one another, regardless of practicalities, realities, challenges or anything else that posed a hurdle. They looked at all that, and simply jumped.

 

I loved a lot of other things about that day and evening, but I want to close this list by saying I loved that I was invited.

 

Friends, just because we know someone doesn’t mean we are automatically included in every little thing that person does. Even our nearest and dearest don’t have an obligation to invite us to each and every event in their lives. And it isn’t personal! When we’re not invited to something, it isn’t to slight us. It is probably because the focus is instead on the others who are being pulled together for that dinner party/night out/birthday/solstice/whatever celebration. Seriously! Not everything in the Universe is about us! Our true friends have zero point zero ill intent toward us. And that is why they are our friends. Now, I once had a friend who for weeks discussed every aspect of her house-warming party with me. She went over her guest list. She talked about the menu, the flowers, the timing of the event. Then, when it came down to it, she did not invite me to the party. I was quiet as long as I could be, but a short while after the shindig I told her my feelings had been hurt. She said that she didn’t invite me because I was her friend and she didn’t want to share me with anyone at her party. Clearly, that is an example of someone not having the best intent where a friendship is concerned. And that is also one reason that person is a former friend. But I digress.

 

In my journal, a piece of card-stock is inserted to mark the page on which I last wrote. One side of the card-stock is blank. On the other is the gorgeous wedding invitation for that stunning day’s commitment one year ago. It is truly a beautiful invitation, crafted in grays and yellows. Each time I open my journal, I am reminded of those two souls and how they found each other. I see the bride looking over her shoulder, as if she is fondly thanking all that came before, even as she takes the hand of the groom beside her, and they ready themselves to leap…

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