I Love Weddings!!

Today was a GREAT day.
I got to be a 'plus one' to a wedding today.
An outdoor wedding.

The weather was ideal. Blue skies, warm sun, bubbles floating perfectly around the whole ceremony space, a light breeze, and greenery and flowers all around.
She walked down the aisle, in a fitted A-line dress with lace appliqués, to an instrumental version of the song "Perfect" by Ed Sheeran. There was an arbor covered in flowers, baby's breath in vases sitting atop three stumps of varying heights on both sides of the arbor, and happy tears all around.
The weather was a little surprising since it stormed last night and has been rainy for days... what luck!!

Then, we had a little appy, then rested in between at my friend's place with hot apple cider and cuddles from her kitty, Nikita.

The reception was lovely. Country chic all the way with a hundred personal touches that were just glorious. A few introductions, then food!! Damn good food to boot!!

Then there is the caveat.
It wasn't bothering me to use my cane, since that has become a constant companion, but everyone at our table agreed there was a unique taste to some of the food. Delicious, maybe just a little odd.
Both of us have health concerns, so it had been pre-decided that we would have to duck out early. We missed the cake cutting and the first dance, but we had reached past our limit... 8pm was likely a tiny bit longer than we should have stayed. 2 hours at a reception sounds menial, and yet we were both struggling, hard.
So as she is driving us back, out of nowhere I get this intense hit of nausea. I am clutching the inside handle of the door, I am finding my doggie bags, I can barely speak, and I am debating whether or not I would make it all the way to her washroom to hurl. (I did,  by the way).
Vomited a few times there, drove back to my parents' place, and vomited a little more.
Once my system had expelled the culprit, I felt fine for the most part, with just a little bit of lingering nausea.

That odd taste?
Star Anise.

Only three food/drink items produce that kind of particular and immediate vomiting response:
1. Grapefruit
2. Star Anise
3. Concentrated banana extract.

It was a subtle taste and likely only included a small amount... and it isn't all that common, especially in these types of catered buffet dinners. It usually gives a black licorice taste and is used more often in Indian and Middle Eastern cuisine (as far as I understand it). It is the reason I always wound up vomiting blood if I ever had a shot of Sambuca. Blech.

An inconsequential moment in an otherwise remarkable afternoon. To witness that much love and happiness, to enjoy food and speeches and be a part of one of the biggest days in a couple's life, and to spend it with my friend - these days are worth cherishing and absorbing every little moment. It was also nostalgic as we used to attend weddings together several times a year when we were both single.

- I used my cane all day.
- I got dizzy a few times and had to shift my sitting position several times a minute.
-I required help a lot.
- I felt exhausted.
- I accidentally ingested an ingredient to which my body reacts violently.
- I had leaked overnight so I was already feeling more ill than in the past few days.
- I couldn't even fathom staying longer to dance today since I had already spent so many hours out - and I wanted to save my hips for attending the Gutsy Walk in the morning.
- I had to wear flats.
- I (of course) could not eat everything available, and then became ill because of what I believed I could eat.
- I couldn't just come home and cuddle my puppy to help me feel better.
- Rj wasn't with me.
- I got sunburnt while wearing a 3/4 length sleeve jean jacket and now have really weird tan lines.
- The wind picked up my skirt and flashed my bum to my friend's neighbourhood.

That last paragraph makes it sound like a really difficult day. There are SO many parts of today that did not go well, or could be construed as embarrassing.

AND YET
Today was one of the absolute best days I have been able to spend with friends in a long time! I thoroughly enjoyed myself. NONE of the above 'negatives' put a damper on the day.
Okay well I guess the pukey part was a little more difficult to ignore... but other than that... everything else either did not bother me AT ALL until I was scrutinizing my day, or the moments were really quite comical.

So here I am, tired as hell and attempting to sleep, but stuck in the washroom, and all I can really focus on is how many details about the day I am anticipating telling Rj!!!

It is vital to allow yourself to have bad days. Changing the way in which you perceive a day takes time and practice. Now, instead of bad days, I experience unfortunate moments. When I am suffering, I seldom tally up the various gloomy difficulties throughout the day, but rather try and find twice as many uplifting moments.
A simple change in mindset can turn an awful day into a spectacular one that included a few additional struggles.

Happy weekend!