It was a beautiful partly cloudy day, with the temperature barely scooting past the 70 degree mark on the thermostat. I awoke several times throughout the night but finally dragged myself out of bed at half past eight, just barely missing the obnoxious alarm clock. I didn’t think I would have a problem waking up, but I wasn’t taking any chances today.
I hopped into the shower, just like my normal routine, except a few hours later in the day than normal. Usually I’m out in less than ten minutes (five if I’m running late) but today I take my time. I tinker with the new gadget that I’ve recently installed: a fog-free mirror that attaches to the shower head. I adjust the lever and water flows through the mirror, keeping it at the same temperature as the shower. Low and behold… no fogging!
I slowly emerge from the shower thirty minutes later, slightly pruned yet refreshed for the day ahead of me. After throwing on some shorts and a t-shirt, I walk into the guest room and grab a hold of Ryan's foot that's sticking out from under his blanket. Then, just like my dad did to me a thousands times, I gently shake it, pulling him out from his quiet slumber.
After a few minutes, Ryan jumps in the shower as I sit down in the living room and go over my “honey do” list that needs to be taken care of before heading out to the reception cite and then the church. As I looked over the list, I hoped that I would receive a text message in time from my soon-to-be wife, so we wouldn't need to go through with the U-haul rental for storage of the tables and chairs once the festivities were over for the evening. No such luck just yet.
As Ryan flopped onto the chair next to me, I expressed to him that I really didn't have much of an appetite but I knew I needed to eat something. I really didn't know where I was going to go for breakfast, but there wasn't much in the alternative compared to the heavy and greasy southern-fried restaurants. However, after a few moments, I came to the conclusion of Donut Country (a must for any donut connoisseur well past the newness and “not really that special“ Krispy Kreme). Nothing too heavy there, unless you considered eating your weight in glazed and jelly-filled donuts.
We were off to Donut Country shortly after my revelation, sinking our teeth into the best apple fritter this side of the Mississippi. Even the apple fritter had a hard time seducing me with its perfectly glazed crunchy exterior and soft and doughy apple-filled interior. I couldn't finish it. However, the upcoming events outweighed the delicious donut, so I tossed the remaining carcass in the garbage and headed out to run some errands.
As I stopped by the bank to make a withdrawal, I receive a text message that a U-haul truck will not be needed. I practically shout for joy, quickly headed to the rental office to cancel our reservation. Walking into the office, I see a line of at least a dozen people, all waiting to get their truck on a Saturday morning around nine thirty in the morning. I didn't have another hour to waste, so I opted for the less painful route: calling them from home to cancel the reservation.
Ryan and I took our time relaxing around the house until it was time adorn our penguin suits and head up to the church. We picked up the two cakes and ever-so-gently placed them in the back the SUV we borrowed from Lisa's uncle and darted off to our last detour -- Cedars of Lebanon National Park. Trying to avoiding visual contact from of my bride-to-be, we passed each other on the road and dropped off the cakes and a dozen cases of bottled water. As I drove off, I couldn't wait to go back there, knowing that all the pressure would soon melt away coming back to where our reception was being held.
Time started to quickly blur past me soon after I arrived at the church. Ryan and I paced every square inch of the establishment before being summoned to the sactuary for pictures. After several family photos, I waited patiently as Lisa entered into my sights. She was the most stunning and beautiful woman I had ever known and she was now walking down the aisle towards me. It was hard to hold back the tears. Pictures were snapped, and we were rushed out of the sactuary in order to start ushering in our guests waiting outside.
Once the butterflies had passed, I suddenly had gained the will to eat again and found myself down in the church kitchen, with my bride, cramming a couple of ham sandwiches into my face. Thankfully, no mustard was spilled and I was eventually escorted to a hallway behind the sactuary; waiting to be given the signal to enter. I waited patiently, for what seemed like an eternity. I was told several stories by our minister as we waited; one involving a very nervous groom who at the very last moment, proceded to decorate Fred's dress robs with his recently consumed lunch. I nervously swallowed and then entered the sactuary.
Now as far as I can recall, and as well as you can read, I had no problem remembering everything that lead up to the cerimony. In fact, I remember most of what happened afterwards. The problem I have, and I know I'm not the only one, is that I can't really remember the cerimony. There are FLASHES, but that's it. FLASH: Lisa walking down the aisle. FLASH: We light our candle. FLASH: I place the ring on her finger. FLASH: We kiss. FLASH: "I would like to present to you for the first time, Mr. and Mrs. Nathan and Lisa Eddy."
I remember wanting to get to the reception more than anything in the world. However, before we could get there, I had to make a Coke run for my wife at a gas station en route. And there are pictures to prove it, when half of people attending your wedding are following like a caravan right behind you.
The rest of the evening was a little less of a blur as we went from table-to-table-to-table chatting and catching up. I could almost recall what the food had tasted like, if I hadn't eaten it so quickly. I hadn't been that hungry in the first place, so it wasn't that much of a loss. Once we got to the toasts, I was ready to crash. Giving a best man speech isn't easy. Trust me, I know from personal experience. Ryan succeeded in many ways... and then he told everyone there that we had met on eHarmony - in which I responded sarcastically with, "we're shooting the commerical next week!"
After Ryan came Tanya, who proceeded to give her speech over the course of the next ten minutes. Our photographer, who will be remain nameless, and who couldn't seem to take much of anything of value, snapped away while she babbled on and on. Ryan refilled his drink at least twice during her speech, parched from being so nervous only moments before.
The evening winded down as my friends floated the keg. I held Lisa close as we danced to our song, probably putting my hands in inappropriate places -- but I didn't care. The remainder of the night was spent on the dance floor dancing in groups to songs we all loved. We laughed, we cheered and we cut-up with each other until it was time to go.
As we said our goodbyes, hugs and kisses were given around the room. As I watched our family and friends break down the tables and chairs, we strolled out to the car. I'm not sure how many people actually witnessed us leaving. It didn't matter. All we wanted to do was get to the hotel room and crash.
After ordering room service, which arrived to our room cold, all we really wanted to do was sleep. We had a long day ahead of us: cleaning laundry and packing and two sit-down meals with both sides of the family. I laid my head down on the pill and thought: "I'm going to wake up happy and to the most beautiful woman for the rest of my life and can't imagine anything better."
