31 Years of Waiting

I've been blonde and wavy,

blonde, brown, and red stripped

brownie/blonde short,

longer and dark,

straight and brown,

back into the "finding myself" phase

hot mess red head

short and sweet brown
dark, drunk, and really short

The "Tabby Cat" look as G calls it

my black phase minus the red stripe,


and finally me today, just the way I am!

Last night as G and I were falling asleep, we had our nightly talk. It usually consists of the game we made up called Hopes, Dreams, Fears. Before we nod off we say the three words and the person has to come up with their gut response. Some nights they are serious, other nights they are funny, and most nights it's G trying to end the game quickly so he can go to sleep. But last nights response was one of my favorites.

My hope was everything I think I will look like on my wedding day is true, my dream is its even better then I hoped, and my fear is that it all falls apart and I look like a hot mess.

I then asked G what he thinks I will look like on our wedding day....

G: "I just want you to look like you."
M: "What do you mean look like you? What do I look like?"
G: "Beautiful. That's what you look like."

I got an email from my mom the other night. The message simply said, “HE wants to make the seating chart tonight. God help me.”

My dad likes to refer to my new monogram as my wedding logo. I haven't corrected him for the mere fact that I actually like the idea.

Anyway, the night my mom and I told my dad about the Harbor Bars, he decided to add to the conversation. Instead of just leaving the parting gift as the ice cream, Fran asked if we wanted to also get each guest backpacks, embroider them with my wedding logo, and fill them with Sunday morning newspapers, bagels, cream cheese, and lox.

And he is telling me not to go over budget! Oy!

When I was a child my family and I would vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine. We would load up our sleeping bags the night before in the back of my mother’s brown station wagon. My three brothers and I would sleep the entire drive up to our beautiful rental house. My family and I have tons of memories from those vacations. Eating fresh clams my brothers shucked earlier in the day, the teddy bear sheets we only used on special occasions, and the world famous Harbor Bar Ice Cream sandwiches.

These ice cream sandwiches were like no other ice cream sandwich we had ever eaten. They weren’t your typical Chip-Which. These bad boys were huge, delicious, unique ice cream cookie creations. The Harbor Bars ranged from chocolate, chocolate chip cookie with mint chocolate chip ice cream, to vanilla cookie with blueberry ice cream, to their world famous strawberry shortcake bar.

One evening after purchasing this delightful treat, we headed back to the house as usual. My mom placed it in a bowl for me, all broken up, because it was too big for my tiny, five year old, hands to hold. Halfway through my treat, I needed to use the powder room. Upon my arrival back to the Harbor Bar, I saw the treat was gone, vanished, disappeared. My little body panicked, scanning the room for evidence. I quickly realized the culprit. I saw the remains of strawberry ice cream on my dad’s mouth. On the top of my lungs I screamed, “DADDY ATE MY HARBOR BAR!!!!” and instantly broke into tears. After much consoling, my dad put me back in the car, and got me a new Strawberry Shortcake.

Over the years, this has been a running joke in my family. Whenever anything went missing, from a sock, to a baseball card, we would all scream, “Daddy ate my harbor bar!”

It is only fitting then, the night daddy’s little girl officially grows up, we serve Strawberry Shortcake Harbor Bars.

My mom and I scouted out a local chef to recreate these creations for us the night of the wedding. I hope you enjoy them as much I do!

One of the things I love about George is his ability to make me smile when I least expect it. Last night, during my nightly ritual of cleaning the kitchen, G yelled out, "Hey Hun, do have your calender handy?"
"Yeah, why, what's up?"
"I was wondering if you are free April 16th?"
"Um, I think I may be busy that day. Why?"
"Oh, okay. I just thought it would be a good day for you to become my wife."

"Crap, this is really long! Just kidding! Looking forward to bringing the rain (as in tears) and not leaving a dry eye in the house! I just hope I can make it through without blubbering uncontrollably! I am so happy for you!"

I really do have the best family!

My parents were sharing the set list for the reception with Tony and Candace. My dad told them about a song I didn’t realize was on the set list, let alone ever existed. Have you ever heard of the song, “These Boots Are Made For Walking” by Jane Fonda. Well, my dad has, and I guess it's playing at the wedding.

So, I may have gone a little over budget for the flowers. Well, okay, let's be honest, I may have gone REALLY over budget with the flowers. I trembled as I called home to tell my dad the estimate, praying my mom would be the one to pick up. I was relieved to hear her cheerful and comforting voice on the other end. Then, I shared the news and heard the dreadful gasp.

We collaborated on how to break the news to my dad. First, wait until the sun sets. Secondly, pour him a vodka on the rocks with a lime wedge, wait half way through the drink, then BAM, drop the bomb. Unfortunately, Carol was out of vodka.

Instead, we just came out and said it. My mom kept telling him that some wedding planners cost thousands of dollars and that she has not charged one penny, therefore, actually saving him money. I kept reassuring him, over speaker phone, that this was the only time I have been over budget. His response was, "You were over budget the day you got engaged."

I have since emailed the florist and asked her to revise the package.

My dad has been on a roll lately with mispronouncing names. As we were going over songs for the Father/Daughter dance he chose You Are So Beautiful by Joe CROCKER. Even more reason why I love his choice!!

I've been sitting in Charlotte Airport for two days waiting to fly down to my parents. The snow/ice storm has kept all planes landed, all rental cars booked, and every hotel room occupied. The thought of having me stay in Ctown one more night was too much for my dad. So, my dad and Tony are driving 5 hours (one way mind you) to pick me up and bring me home. What a guy!

I am home in NC for the next week planning the wedding. Before I flew down I jokingly told my dad to feel free to book me a spa day. After getting off the phone with him, I told George I secretly hoped he would get me one. At that point, G looked me dead in the eyes and said, “At this point if you asked your dad to get you a pony he would.”

G was right. I have a spa day on Thursday! Love you, Dad!!

My dad is very concerned that the out of town guests will not get their room booked by the March 14th cutoff date. My mom and I have been reassuring him that everyone will find a place to stay and will do it on time. My dad’s friends on the otherhand may have a hard time booking. He has been telling everyone to stay at the ROSEwood Suites not the HOMEwood Suites.

Of all the words my Father should NOT get wrong is my new last name. Leave it to him to write an incorrect name on almost all of the paperwork he was responsible for. According to him I am marrying George Stolz, not George Stotz. If Fran and Rev. Barbara get together I will be marring Gregory Stolz.

They would look more like this...

and money would have it, that this would happen...

I am not taking my chances!