Corlikowski Wedding and a little history.

"It is one of the blessings of old friends that you can afford to be stupid with them."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Laura and I first met in high school. I don't know remember the first time we met. Despite the fact that she was two years younger, it felt like I always knew her, but I think we only met my senior year, her sophomore. We ended up in choir and dance together. Then we were cast in the spring musical together. Oklahoma! I was Laurey Williams and she was my Aunt Eller. Oh the memories! So many fun afternoons in rehearsal or hanging out at my house singing and dancing.

We were silly. We used to compete, testing our breath control while singing "Think of Me" from Phantom of the Opera. Goofballs, I know, but it was so fun. We didn't race through the song. We'd sing, giving each note it's proper value and depth. No shying away. We could easily get through the first stanza, but began running out of breath by the middle/end of the second.

Think of me
think of me fondly
when we've said goodbye
Remember me
once in awhile, please
promise me you'll try

When you find
that once again you long
to take your heart back
and be free...

By that point we'd be on the very last bit of breath, pushing out the last note to win the competition. And then... we'd start all over again. Try it. It might not seem hard just looking at those words, but when you're really singing, as if truly performing, that's pretty incredible breath control. :) We practiced.

Closing night of Oklahoma! we glued our heads on pictures of Victoria's Secret models and put them on the postcards that Jud, the hired hand, had in his shack. Poor Alexi. I think it took everything in him not to laugh.

Then Laura and I went on a cross-country train trip one summer. From San Francisco (well, Emeryville... fitting, I thought) to Boston and back. The California Zephyr. Fiddling and singing our way across middle America, flirting with every boy within five years of our age, visiting New York City, Boston, Berklee College of Music (then just a dream... now, her alma mater), hot springs in Glenwood Springs, CO, we solidified our friendship.

Then Laura's dad died. Motorcycle accident. She asked me to sing at his funeral. What an honor. Only, it was a Catholic mass... and I was singing Ave Maria. Mormon girls don't grow up hearing Ave Maria every week at church. I'd never sung it in my life. I had a day or so, while recovering from bronchitis and a sinus infection, to learn it well enough to pull it off for a church full of friends who'd heard it countless times and had it memorized. Somehow, it turned out beautifully and I was so happy to be able to share that moment with Laura and to offer my love and condolences in such a meaningful way.

After that, Laura went east to Berklee College of Music in Boston. And she's been there ever since. Last time we saw each other was when we met up around New Year's several years ago back home in San Francisco, but mostly we just keep up with each other on Facebook.

A year ago, Laura emailed me:

Hi Emery,
Just in case I forgot to tell you….cause i know I did. I have a man in my life and we got engaged! We found a spot and are hoping you will save the date for our wedding. ... The wedding festivities will take place between September 24-26, 2010. We hope you can join us!

Love,
Matt and Laura

So finally, in reference to the title of this blog... I went to Laura and Matt's wedding (they affectionately combined last names - the Corlikowski wedding). To make a real little vacation out of it, I took my mom with me. I'm so glad I did. I just love her and had a wonderful time talking and exploring!

New Hampshire in the fall. Beautiful setting! Wonderful little B&B. Gorgeous bride. Great music. Themed attire with hats and all. Fantastic Scottish accents abounding. And here are the pictures to prove it.

The Merry Martha Suite at The Greenfield Inn. Greenfield, New Hampshire.

Cobb Hill Estate. Harrisville, New Hampshire. (Photo by another wedding guest.)

Here comes the bride... walking down the aisle flanked on either side by kilts.

Music any which way you turned.

Laura and Matt. Bride and Groom.

Hats were everywhere.

Dress by Luxe Emporium in Ventura, CA. Hat by Mom.

Cobb Hill Estate. Cocktail Hour.

Fall in New England.

Beautiful night. (Photo by another wedding guest.)

New England in the Fall.

Did you see those colors?

Pretty purple wildflowers in Peterborough, New Hampshire.

Here I am. Peterbourough, New Hampshire.

.
.
.
.