My First Catholic Wedding

I've just returned from nearly a week down home in Louisiana. I spent much of that time in Thibodaux preparing for my friend's wedding, which was pretty fun all in all. As I've written before, going home is always an adventure in some way. Something always seems to happen that catches me by surprise or offends me deeply even though people don't seem to have ill intentions. It's a really weird feeling to have been born and raised in a specific place and then, as an adult to feel like there is no "home" to go back to. After I moved and then, my parents moved, it's like the distance between my childhood and my current life are totally disconnected.

Anyway...this visit was less about having one specific moment of shock than a longer visit that made me see how different I am in almost every respect from the people I grew up around. And yet, my friend and I have always been different and are still the same close friends we have always been. That is what keeps me heading down there.

For the record, here are a few of the memories from the week:

1) Being the maid of honor in a small town wedding ostensibly means that you are supposed to be the wedding planner, photography director, errand runner, and all around chilled out presence. People may have been joking, but it was far more aggravating than it was funny as the other bridesmaids kept finding faults with me like how could I forget to put together some tacky fake bouquet for the dress rehearsal? I'm like...um, I didn't forget, I simply have never heard of this. I've done a few dress rehearsals and never heard of having some fake bouquet for the bride to use down the aisle. Then, everyone in the group starts talking about her wedding and how she definitely had one at her dress rehearsal. The bride couldn't care less, so why is this a topic of conversation? Then, when I didn't exactly seem super chilled out because the other bridesmaids had been ragging on me for three days straight, they also comment on me being stressed. Um, yes! I am stressed since I've just found out that I'm supposed to be coordinating photography, handling all of the bride's needs, AND generally answering questions that I have no idea how to answer. I'm always astounded at how mean southern women, in particular, can be towards each other. Thank you patriarchy for succeeding very well down there.

2) I was reminded that by the age of 31 it is extremely rare to find people in my hometown who can talk about anything other than their children or their frustrated love lives. In fact, as I tried to get to know some of the bridesmaids, I simply learned more than I ever wanted to know about their kids' baseball schedules. My best friend from home and I have a unique friendship in that we stayed up until 2:30 a.m. every night talking intimately and seriously about Bobby Jindal's education policy (she is a teacher), abortion (we are on total opposite sides of this argument), and other social issues. My friend has a hard time finding anyone else to talk with about these things, and our time talking gave me a huge sense of gratitude for my friendships, which always have space for such discussion, and especially for our special friendship.

3) On a happier note, I did love getting in my fill of line dancing. I LOVE me some line dancing. I did not realize that people not only line dance to the Cupid Shuffle and the Electric Slide, but also to hip hop favorites.... I can't remember the exact song right now, but I jumped in to the dance floor at the reception prepared to shake my booty and instead found myself getting in line. I'm not going to lie, I pretty much loved that....

All in all, I definitely do not feel like I was on vacation, which is something I lament about going home because it never does feel all that relaxing. BUT I am glad that I was there for my friend and was the maid of honor she wanted...and I'm glad I won't have to do it for anyone else down there.