I should start by introducing the characters in my life story for anyone who doesn't know me:
THE BROWNIES: "The Brownies" are my immediate social circle. There are five of us. We met in college and we're still attached at the hip. I talk to these girls nonstop, would never hesitate to tell them a thing, can count on them to drop everything and come running if I need them to, and our main goal in life is to someday own homes in the same cul-de-sac so that we are together forever. I'll introduce them individually...
LB (Laura Beth): is my best friend, Maid of Honor in my wedding, so much like me it's weird, born within 24 hours of me, mother of my God-Son (Jacob), navigator of my life, etc. She is the the first one of us to have a baby so right now our sights are set on her and making this transition smooth sailing!!! She works for her fathers life insurance and financial planning firm and lives in Lexington, KY with her husband Pat and their son Jacob. (Photo: LB and me on my wedding day)
(Photo: Alice, Paige, Meagan)Alice: I have known Alice longer than any of The Brownies. She was one of my first friends in the sorority (we're all Kappa Delta's) and we've seen each other through it all. We lived together in the same bedroom during our first bad break-ups, we spent a summer together as camp counselors in Minnesota, and she was my party buddy all through college days. Alice was supposed to be born in the 40's but God knew I needed her to be with me so he made her wait. She loves old stuff - old furniture, old music, old cars, and old style. Alice designs floor plans for a private builder in Birmingham, AL where she lives with her husband Chase and their dog Winston.
Paige: Paige is the youngest of The Brownies and she filled a void in my life when we became friends. She is the girliest girl I've ever met and loves pearls and ribbons and polka dots (we all do but Paige takes the cake!). We were roommates my last two years of college and lived together when we started dating our husbands so we have a special bond that way. Paige was waiting for a call from St.Louis Optometry School when she and her husband Chris decided to just go ahead and move there. They, along with cat Harley, are living it up in their downtown apartment but plan to move back to Louisville within the next two years.
Meagan: Last but not least is Meagan. Meg is the fiery readhead of the group and that only begins to explain her. She is decorator extraordinare; a talent that's in her blood but was certainly nurtured during the year she lived with Paige and me. She was always making something or painting something... now she owns a store called Rabbit in the Moon in Louisville, KY where she sells high-end everything and decorates nurseries. Every year she does a room for the Bellarmine Show House and it always amazes us. Her husband Nathan has been around for quite a while and have been exposed to our antics one too many times. Meagan and Nathan dated since highschool! They just bought and remodeled their first home in Shelbyville, KY where they live with dog Jack.
PHEW! Okay now that I've yammered on and on about my great friends, here's why!
All I can think about this week is going to Alabama! Scott and I will be leaving Friday morning to make the journey to Louisville to pick up Meagan and Paige. Then we'll swing through Nashville where I'll drop Scott off with his friend Corey. Then we'll continue down I-65 to meet up with Alice and go to the RIVAH HOUSE in Athens, AL! Alice's grandpa has this amazing house on the river (aka The RivAh) that he lets us use. We eat and drink and laugh and swim and lay in the sun like lizards. It's wonderful and we're so happy that we have stuck to our plan to make it up there. Sadly, LB will not be there as she is a Mommy to a new baby and he's too little to come with us just yet. She is sad but I feel pretty sure we'll call her every hour to tell her what we're doing!
Scott will be going to Huntsville, AL for a surprise party for his friend Eric. I'm dropping him off with his friend Corey in Nashville and then they'll go on to Huntsville. The three of them were roommates in college and Eric moved away three years ago so he will be SO surprised and SO excited to see them. (Photo: Eric, Scott, Corey)Can't wait to post photos when we get back! I'm sure there will be stories!
