Wedding month is always interesting

     Well, that was fun.  It has been a crazy, crazy, crazy two weeks.

Many of you already know my son married last weekend. But, leading up to this day took a lot of effort on this mom’s part. Being THAT mom, the one that wants everything to be perfect for their kids, makes for a lot of stress. Yes, brought on myself but luckily I have a daughter that understands my craziness and has a way of gathering me up and putting me on the right path. 

     I worry very little. Not ever been one to worry too much. My mom did enough of that for me and six other people. I know that the end game isn’t of this world and the reactions in my life are those of my choices. The things I do worry about....having enough food. I ALWAYS cook too much. If I cook for two there is enough for four. If I cook for four there is enough for eight. This is because I want to make sure everyone is satisfied and happy when they leave my table. Remember this.....as the story will continue. 

     A month before wedding trip time I purchased four Michelin tires for my baby. Anyone who has ever purchased them knows they are far from cheap. They were much needed and most definitely a good choice. One week later I had a leaky tire. Off to see Scott....yep, not just one screw in the tire but two punctures. UGH! Luckily, those Michelins have a warranty that included repair. 

     The week before we were to leave for Florida I find myself in the Hamilton Place area with a car that will not start. This happened last year and it was fixed with a simple battery. My first thought was since the battery was fairly new, the starter must be skipping about and going out. Off to Advance and of course, the battery is fine. Not to be one to question machinery I call my handy dandy mechanic. Scott is God’s gift to my cars. He has ALWAYS taken great care of me and my kids’ cars. I never question when he tell me I need something and trust him to always make me road worthy. He places the carbon tester on and low and behold the battery is NOT 100%. Back to advance I go for a replacement battery. Lucky for me, last year’s battery was under warranty and I received a new battery.

      After a long, hot day driving back and forth between Ringgold and Chattanooga trying to convince Advance the battery was bad, making sure and checking my food to buy list,I made it home and plopped down in my chair. I had been home less than 20 mins and still wasn’t cool. Of course I’m hot, the thermostat isn’t on. The air is out! Eddie Pilcher to the rescue. Seeing as how Eddie and I go all the way back to elementary school he knows I will try anything. Here I am, dark thirty, panel off the air conditioner 90 degrees outside with a flashlight. As we giggle about not touching this part when I touch that part, I decide flipping the breaker would probably be a better choice. Something about being a mature adult made that decision. Eddie almost had me talked into not pulling it....something about living on the edge....only live once....ahhh come on....where’s that Tammie spirit? All fuses intact and all parts accounted for outside. We move inside and alas, the problem! The batteries in the therm were corroded. I am usually pretty prepared with the right tools and fix it items. Why yes, I DO have that size battery in my repertoire. AIR!!!! YES!!! God is good and I’m still hanging in there. The only costs incurred so far are for the four tires and the oil change, both necessities for the trip.

     Anyone that has ever worked twelve hour shifts knows by the time your third in a row shows up you don’t know your name. This has become more and more prevalent as our ER is covered up at least 10 of those hours, if not all 12. I hadn’t packed and also had to make sure I had all the kitchen supplies and food I would need to feed all the family, the 35 people for the rehearsal dinner and enough for the groomsmen’s breakfast the day of the wedding. Looking back the only thing I forgot about would have been aluminum foil. Can’t say that was a deal breaker. 

     Swinging into Alabama to grab my brain (Taylor), my amazing son in law and that cute little Bubby of mine, dropping the dog with the awesome mother in law Whitson, we are READY! Wedding clothes, check. Bathing suit, check. Wedding gift, check. Enough food for an army, check. Husband with the trailer full of wedding supplies, check. My car mate, Tammy, check. Let’s do it! Four hours later we are in Destin and the weather is AHHHHHHmazing, albeit, HOT.

     As per my usual, I am setting up the kitchen, making sure everything is taken care of prior to hitting the beach. Not much time to spend there but I’m going to try it. After all, it is Bubby’s First trip to the sand and surf and my family is out there without me. The next day finds them on the beach again and me preparing for those 35 people to feast on taco bar food. I will brag and say our condo smelled like an hopping Mexican restaurant. After everything is percolating I head to the beach. A few hours later the time has come to make the final preps. Again, I will brag between me and my daughter we can rock a party! There was more than enough food and everyone was complimentary. 

     Wedding day arrives and that will be a facebook post in and of itself for there is a LARGE issue with the condo owner. This will NOT go without advertisement and warnings to anyone that uses VRBO in the Destin area. As soon as the green light is given I will continue this part of the story. Until then, know there is more to the story.

     A HUGE shout out to my girlfriend Cindy Wallin for without her, the decor and wedding would have been an absolute nightmare. She has vision and panache, not to mention skills. If we could only figure out how to get everyone to be at rehearsal and listen we would be rich! Picking up decorations, tables, candles, and food on a dark beach in 85 degree weather after an extremely long day makes one short tempered but no one was testy. Everyone worked together (even the ex walked trash to the garbage) and within 30 minutes, that beach never knew we were there. Late night and early morning makes for a long drive home. Well, home at that point was Alabama. I hadn’t slept that good in a long time. Just like that, the next morning it was over. Time to leave the best part of me in Alabama and head north. Naila was more than ready to jump in the car and head out. Little did either of us know that the feisty attitude wasn’t going to last. 

     Interstate 75 on a 100 degree day is not my idea of fun but a necessary evil when we live where we do. Naila is the best co pilot but she isn’t much on conversation. I stopped at the Adairsville rest area only to return to my car and realizing it isn’t as cool as I thought it should be. After all, I had left it running for my little furry one. Within ten miles I realized the air was set on 60 and it was HOT! If I can get home I can add Freon and be back in business. (Yes, I do) Nope, Freon was not the answer so the trip continues to Chattanooga to see Scott once again. This time the news isn’t good. While I am thankful it didn’t go out in Florida, I was not happy to learn I had to have a new compressor!  But again, there is an answer to my need for transportation to work the next day. My son is on his honeymoon and doesn’t need his ride. I can get to work. After all, someone has to pay for the tires,  the compressor and all the food for the wedding.   

     While all of these things could be seen as setbacks and headaches I choose to look at them as blessings. I drive my dream car. I appreciate the fact that I can fix things and feed an army. I have great friends that I can trust and am thankful they are smart and understand my craziness. I am glad I had a mom and dad that picked up and moved on no matter how bad it looked. I’m glad my sis has been preaching and teaching Dave Ramsey and I had the money to fix those things that came up instead of panicking. Of course, it is time to start again on that savings plan. I am sitting in a cool house, dog at my feet, dream car in the garage and my baby and his bride will be home tomorrow. I visited mom and dad today and had a good lunch with my sister. While I could be “woe is me” I’m so thankful for all the above. So many need to see the glass is not only half full it is a glass! You aren’t drinking from a recycled plastic cup from the kangaroo. I didn’t get to spend much time on the beach but I did get the sand between my toes. I got to experience time in the water with my grandson. I had the pleasure of spending time with the people I love the most and see my son marry his lifetime love. My glass is not just half full, it is running over.