Wow, what an eventful weekend. It all started over a month ago, when, out of the blue I recieved (via facebook!) an invitation to my friend "Laura's" wedding. We haven't seen really talkked to each other in about seven years. I was overjoyed.
Laura and I go back further than anyone else outside of our families...to the second grade. She was the first friend I met when I moved to Portage, and though we've drifted at times, we never ceased to be friends. I knew her parents, her friends, and even remember when she first met the skinny teen boy who would become her husband. All I knew was that the wedding would be in South Haven, the address and that I needed dancing shoes. So in the early afternoon on Saturday I got dressed up in my best clothes (minus the tie) and headed down the highway to South Haven. To my surprise it took me only an hour, leaving me a full hour early for the wedding, so I killed time by strolling through downtown South Haven. Having not been there for a few years, I was impressed with what they were doing to the place (such as restoring original storefronts). "Finally" I thought, "This place can actually look like a decent lakeside town!"
As it turned out, the wedding was about two miles south of town behind a hotel. After I was directed around the hotel, I saw it...that watery monstrosity we locals just call "the Lake". It's amazing; I've lived in around the lake my entire life and I still CANNOT get tired of it. It was just so immense, so sparkling blue beneath the cloudless sky. This was going to be one sweet afternoon.
As I wandered about the bluff I ran into some guys from my high school days...people who haven't seen me since I had hair! Once they got over the initial shock of seeing a shaved head, we began catching up, somewhat awkwardly, the way you do when you haven't seen someone in a decade. The wedding itself was spectacular. The bride and groom looked stunning, and much more grown up. They both cried through the ceremony and at times had to interrupt their vows to wipe their eyes.
The reception, held in a fluttering white tent next to the ceremony, was similarly awesome. As I sat with everyone, memories were exchanged, and updates about classmates in far flung places were tossed across the table. I just marveled at it all. Here we all were, at a mini class reunion. Some were married, some put on weight, some looked the same. I mentioned that just ten years ago we were finishing up our sophomore year, and that started a whole new round of reminicences.
As evening wore on, with our stomachs pleasantly filled with fajitas, the DJ cued up the dance floor and the movement started. I decided to walk off a bit of dinner along the bluff. The sun, now lower in the sky created a soft, orange-ish glow on everything around it. It was utterly gorgeous. I would have gazed for hours, but as Laura instructed me to dance with her, I decided to go back. As we danced, we chatted about our construction paper projects in 2nd grade, and the travails of adolescence and advice about relationships. She couldn't say enough times how happy she was that I came. She made me feel like the guest of honor. Her happiness made me happy. It was all so worth it.
After the dance, I talked with my classmates again, having some good conversations about leaving Michigan, something that's been on my mind. Liz, who chose to sub for two years before finally finding a job, said it was worth it, and that if she left, she wouldn't be here to make the place better. She was very encouraging. The music ended around 11 and I had to get back home. I said my round of goodbye's, wished Laura and her husband well, and hugged both of her parents, before leaving.
As I drove home, I thought a lot about roots. I had just spent my entire day surrounded by people I had grown up with, came of age with. It was a total throwback to the 1990s, but in some ways, it was as if I just graduated a year ago. the point is, I was in a place where people knew me, and still know me. It's familiar, and a nice place at that. And honestly, Lake Michigan kicks butt. Earlier this week, I had seriously considered leaving, almost looking forward to it in a way. I may still have to leave, but being surrounded by the natural beauty, and the great people makes my decision all the harder.
I danced on Lake Michigan. I had a good time. May many more good times come.
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