the privilege of growing older - true story

I am 32 years old today.  

I actually had to check.  I wasn't sure if I was turning 31 or 32.  I think that might be the definition of being old.  If you can't remember how old you actually are.

I used to lie about my age.  I started really early, like right out of high school. 

I figured if I started early people would never catch on.

On my birthday people would ask how old I was turning.  One year I'd tell them 25, the next year I'd tell the same person 24.  I figured I'd confuse them early so that when I was turning 40 or 50 down the line, no one would ever know.

It's not that I had a problem with getting older.  But whenever someone asked my age, there was always some judgment that went along with it.  Some behavior to age ratio they'd be trying to figure out.  It bothered me, the labels and judgements that went with some ages.

Then one day I flipped over this bottle cap:

Around that time a friend of mine had recently passed away.  She was 28.  

I instantly thought of her when I read this.  

And I realized how unappreciative it was for me to be so self-involved to lie about my age. I really should be incredibly grateful for each day that is given to me. So I stopped - cold turkey.  (It wasn't easy.)  

People know how old I am now.  I'm actually quite surprised how many people still ask me. But I answer.  

And I don't care what they end up thinking.

Maybe that's the definition of being old. :)

LMF

a couple of days

On Wednesday morning I was going to post about how we had booked our honeymoon and Dan had booked his bachelor party, but we had yet to confirm any other wedding details.  

We really have our priorities straight with this whole wedding thing. :)

But then Wednesday afternoon I got a call from the church, confirming our date and time. And last night I got the proposal from the venue.  

Tomorrow we have our all-day extensive pre-martial counseling class.  

In just a few days, everything fell into place.

Looks like we're really doing this.  

I hope everyone as a wonderful holiday weekend (and a bit more patience than me).

LMF

image via

wine country wedding venues {st. helena, napa, healdsburg}

We shopped for wedding venues last weekend.  I'm thinking Northern California may be one of the hardest places to do this.  

Everything is so gorgeous!  I feel like we can't make a wrong decision.  

Not a bad problem to have. :) 

Last weekend's wedding planning crew:

At possibly my most favorite restaurant.  

Seriously if you're ever anywhere even close to Napa, go here.

The prettiest little church:

We accidentally looked at one venue.  The site fees looked deceivingly low by Napa standards so I booked an appointment.  Turns out there were a few little "extras" that weren't accounted for in that number.

This is one of the "cabins" you are required to book during your wedding weekend.

 Quote from my mom: "now this is my kind of camping!"

I think here he was saying: "venue shopping is so much fun!" :)

We have a few more appointments in Sonoma this weekend and then some tough decisions will have to be made.

LMF