Moving forward and looking back...

My life is really headed in the direction I always imagined it would... although to be honest it did take a "little" bit longer than expected. Still, with my wedding only 51 days away (thank you Lauri for the freakin' countdown clock!) I find myself thinking about the life I am looking forward to with Monika. For the first time in a long time I don't so much look at the future with uncertainty, but I look at it with anticipation.

In spite of having the time of my life right now and looking to the future, I find myself getting a look in the rear-view mirror a little this past week. The passing of my friend Troy has had an effect that won't soon pass and brought back a lot of memories I had forgotten. The pain of the loss hurt, but all the memories were good. How many people do you know that when you think of them there are only good memories? Troy was that kind of person.

I also had my yearly dinner with my friends Rusty and Kit from Georgia. Rusty and I were in school together, and Kit is a more recent acquaintance. But they still bring back a lot of the good feelings from college. Strolling down memory lane and some of the trouble we got into still makes me smile. Dinner with my friends and Monika was great and the only sad parts were when toasting Troy and saying goodbye. It was a little easier this time though because I know Rusty and his lovely wife will be here for our wedding. Can't wait to see them again.

Just on the heels of our dinner with Rusty, I got another blast from the past in a phone call from my friend Andy Freeman! Again, a fellow band member and fraternity brother is coming to Vegas and wanted to grab a bite to eat and catch up. Dinner will be on Thursday and I can't wait. Been too long.

I guess with all the nostalgia the past week or so, it wasn't surprising that I fired up YouTube and made Monika watch a bunch of videos from the University of Georgia. She was patient and sat with me while I explained what she was seeing with the enthusiasm of a 12 year old. She watched and listened... and laughed when I got goosebumps listening to Battle Hymn. Sorry... can't help it.

One of the reasons I am looking forward to the wedding is that it will be a chance to see some faces from long ago who are making the trip to the desert for Monika and I. The beginning of the rest of my life starts that day with Monika and I am tickled that a little bit of my past will be there to see it.

--C