Dancing Queen

The title to this post, of course, refers to my dear friend Liz. Her bridesmaids threw her a bridal shower which was on Saturday and was a musical extravaganza. Naturally, I got stuck in traffic on the way there and by the time I arrived the other three talented bridesmaids had all but finished decorating and really transforming a beautiful home into a lovely party space... complete with red carpet.


The fact that we coordinated everything via the entire state of California is a testament to organization. It was purple and silver and definitely note-worthy (bad pun). The food was really yummy (b/c the bride-to-be said so) and the games were fun... a ice-breaker Bingo that had everyone screeching and shrieking and running all over the place and a Mad Libs musical that we had to audition for, a la American Idol, that had us rolling around on the floor laughing. Personally, I will never again be able to watch Sound of Music without thinking of Meat Pies. (Try figuring that A-Z connection out!) We had an autograph book, took tons a photos, opened presents, and there were gift bags for all including Mamma Mia face-wipes and really delicious The Color Purple Punch. (Beat that!) We really EMBRACED the theme.

Afterwards, I went to the Block in the O.C. with L. We ate at a place called Alcatraz. The irony here is that they seated us right in front of a twinkly lit Golden Gate bridge model. So I traveled all the way to LA just to eat in San Francisco. Sigh. :)

It was nice day. Exhausting, but more than nice. It was a legend (wait-for-it)-ary moment to look at someone and think back to all the private jokes and memories. That this is person who you grew up with, that you are still friends with despite time and distance. She has never let me down, has always been an inspiration (BR discount, hello?), and always stood by me and always held my hand when she saw that I was in (literal and figurative) pain. She is the kind of person I embrace and say Thank You.

Thank you Liz for making me laugh... over and over until I can't breath sometimes
Thank you Liz for standing in my blind spot when I was recovering from surgery
Thank you Liz for feeding and withholding the cotton candy like a prison warden
Thank you Liz for exploring the "seemingly" employee-only paths at Disneyland
Thank you Liz for taking me to the "cute" dentist and driving me home afterwards
Thank you Liz for helping me not get my @ss kicked by a Korean gang (or wannabe)
Thank you Liz for helping me see straight when I got wonky
Thank you Liz for encouraging me in the constant quest for the perfect pair of boots
Thank you Liz for hauling me off the lane lines and preventing my hair from turning green
Thank you Liz for the hundreds of memories that I share with you that have made up 18 years
(I hold each one near and dear)
Thank you Liz for honoring me and allowing me to be part of your special day

I am beyond fortunate to count you as a friend...
...and beyond lucky to have you count me as one of yours.