Bahamian Rhapsody

This entire trip has been a joy so it seemed fitting that the last stop would be one of the loveliest weddings I've ever attended. My dear Aussie friends, Em and Grant, arranged to get hitched in the Bahamas on Australia Day. 53 people from every stage of their lives gathered at a resort to celebrate one of the best couples in the world. As Grant said, the word 'special' is overused these days, but no other word would suffice in describing Em and Grant.

The wedding was the culmination of 11 years of dating. When I met them both four years ago, it was a foregone conclusion that they were heading down that road. The worst Bahamian weather in the last ten years could not ruin such a resplendent occasion. Em was the beautiful and calm bride, who lit up when she saw her best friend waiting for her at the altar. Grant was the handsome groom, who seemed in awe of his lovely Em. I had to choke back the tears more than once and I felt lucky to call them my friends.

Two days of parties followed the ceremony. Initially, I spent most of my time with one of my best friends, Kari, her fiance Patrick and her parents (my second family). (Kari and Patrick are getting married next month in Vail so more happy occasions are to come.) Eventually, we met Em and Grant's many friends and soon after they felt like our friends. Gerald and I became tight after one conversation. Sometimes that's all it takes.

When you're away for so long, you have the sense that your friends are frozen in time. The wedding reminded me that life went on in my absence. There were marriages (Amy and Zaki, Tatia and Brian), engagements (Kari and Patrick), babies/pregnancies (Matt and Shannon's second daughter, Katie, Jill and David's third child, Manny, Amy and Timothy), new loves (Christine), milestones reached (Bentley), new jobs (Jen, Pirjo, Pauliina), new schools (Jenska) and returns to home (Sri). Halfway around the world, there was always someone cheering for you.