A Weekend Southside- A retro post

Last night in an impromptu Skype session, my biffle M and I were baffling over the difference between six months ago and now. Our third biffle was still engaged, we lived in the same state, we were both single and crazy, and we were baffling over what to do with ourselves over the next six months. Now we are living more than 3000 miles apart and still managing to stay invasively involved in the other's life. I'd call that success.

But in thinking over our conversation, I realized that I never posted about our weekend Southside, visiting the bride-to-be and picking out bridesmaids' dresses last April. So as almost a year has past, I feel it is appropriate to share these pictures with you.

So, so, so sunburned. (That happened before we ever got down there, she can't blame our mutual activities.)

The biffles x

The biffles drink. There's a good story about the one on the right.... Stay tuned (it's included below).

Lovely.

Even lovelier

There's something about taking pictures right next to each other: You can't see what the two people beside you are actually doing. Be careful, you might end up cheesing it while your friends do... well who even knows what.

 The night we got down to E's neck of the woods, we hung out that the family restaurant for a few hours and then went to a chill bar to hang out some more. Obviously a little photoshoot erupted, but we didn't scare anyone away. So don't worry. 

And the mason jar story? Well, I went to the bathroom for a couple of minutes, and when I came back out, I took a sip of my beer in the mason jar. Totally normal thing to do, except I spat it out. Because suddenly my beer had become very hot. I don't mean that it was no longer ice cold, nor do I mean that it was like the best beer ever. What I mean was that it was spicy, very, very, spicy. 

With utterly straight faces, everyone at the table tasted the beer when I wouldn't shut up about the weird, new taste. Every single one of them told me they didn't taste anything weird, everyone except one. This one kind soul was the last to taste the beer. He took one taste, looked at me, started laughing and just said, 'Sorry, I can't do this. That actually tastes terrible!' 

When everyone started yelling at him for giving them away, I realized that my 'friends' had put Tabasco hot sauce in my drink while I was away from the table. They all proceeded to spit out the bad taste around the table, and someone bought me a new beer. 

'Friends'! Pah!

I taught them that monkey face.

The happy couple.

The happier couple.

The really happy couple.

 

 The next day, with sore heads and dreading hearts, we went bridesmaids' dress shopping. After trying on literally a hundred dresses (I don't know how we managed honestly), we finally decided. 

At the time, I remember consciously deciding not to post these pictures because I didn't want to ruin the surprise of the dress design. But since you've already seen all the wedding photos, I think it's okay.... 

Then, it was sadly time to say goodbye. With a bug hug, we hit the road.

M showing off her muscles. It's okay, girl, we know you're strong. No need to rub it in!

9/11

9/11 Never Forget

As an American currently living abroad, as someone who is from Washington and moved to New York, as a member of a military family, I'm very aware of September 11th and of how people talk about it. Thankfully, not everyone is brazen and over-gesticulating about American pride. The day is a sad one, and we know that.  September 11th is a personal wound, a personal fear, and a personal experience that we all share, and it's one that makes us at once proud and humble as a country. Proud of our citizens and families and their response to the events of that day and their responsibility in the days that follow. Humble because we are vulnerable.

But it is also a day to reflect on what the day did to us as a nation and on that pain that allows us as people to empathize with those suffering from terrible violence all over the world. I don't mean it in a way that is meant to inspire mindlessly heroic action or arrogant war. I don't mean it in a way that makes our loss any less or more. But I do mean it in a way that hopefully inspires each and every one of us reading this (myself included) to remember 9/11 in a spirit of common humanity. No person and no people should ever suffer under acts of such violence, whether it be for their culture, their actions, their religion, or their unluckiness.

Remember 9/11. 

I remember it for myself, for my family, and for my friends. I remember it because of what that day did to us, what it forced on us, and what we did because of it. And most importantly, I remember what it feels like, and for that reason I pray in solidarity with all those who are terrorized by violence in every part of the world, not just the United States. May you never lose hope, and may you always remember with forgiveness and hope in your hearts. We remember together, and we will always be in it together.