Viva Las Vegas

Last week, I went to Las Vegas for one of my best friend's wedding. It was all I could have hoped for in a vacation with friends and more. The weather was perfect the whole time we were there. We stayed at the MGM Grand, and truly lived it up the whole time we were there. We ate great food, lounged by the pool, explored the strip, shopped for obnoxious t-shirts, and on the last night were partying like we were in a rap video. It was ridiculous. I loved every minute of it.

The wedding itself was a beautiful sight. They kept it short and to the point, but it was by far the best service I have ever witnessed. They didn't talk about religion or read any passages, or drag it out and make it boring. They just talked about marriage, and JC and Jackie, and the adventure they were about to embark on. As corny as it may have been, I left the chapel a tad bit emotional, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't make me want to get married.

As with any vacation, no one wanted to leave. But all good things must come to an end, or so they say. We all returned safely to the fine state of New Jersey (or Pennsylvania for our non-armpit-of-the-country residents). One week later, we all dressed to impress and attended the reception dinner in Philadelphia. It was great to see so many friends in one place, celebrating the wedding of someone we all love dearly. It's moments like those when you wish you could freeze time, so that no one had to go separate ways and grow up. For it is an undeniable truth that growing up leads to change.

And alas, I woke up this morning to the phone call confirming that in a few days, there will be a big change. I will once again embark on 2 months of touring. We leave at the end of the week. A part of me is very excited, and nervous, and sad to leave. It's very odd to start a new chapter of your life - a new career. It's very odd to be displaced from the things and the people and the places that you have grown to be so familiar with. I can't say that I don't love the traveling, and being surrounded by and working with great people. There are so many people that I am looking forward to seeing again and spending the summer with. But there are also many things and people that I will miss back home, and not filling my summer with them seems so foreign to me. The grilling, the late nights, the beach, the diner, the city(ies). I mean, tour will be great. The people will be great. But there really is no place like home.

It's funny how growing up, you just want to get away. And when you're older, you're torn between staying and leaving. What comes next?

Wake me up when we get there.