Today, I'm Beaming

Rarely can I dream up a more joyful time than spending an evening binge-watching TV and eating cake with wild abandon (guess what I'm doing right this second. Go ahead, just guess.) but you guys.

What a phenomenal weekend. I can't remember being happier.

First things first. My sister – my beautiful, stunning, brilliant, amazing, kind-hearted, hilarious big sister – got hitched. There is nothing on this planet I like better than having the opportunity to celebrate her, so what with her wedding and her birthday... well. Five days of festivities, and we were positively floating on air. As I nursed an extra large latte this morning, I said to my colleagues: I honestly don't think it could've been more perfect.

The wedding was insanely picturesque and gorgeous, as the redwoods stood witness to vows of love and the sunlight dappled prettily through the shade of the canopy. Straight out of a fairytale, it was. Choo choo train and giant chess set and dragons hiding atop trees and all.

But there's more. 

I had two of my best friends show up (yes, you know their faces quite well, I think) and help out here and there, and they were quite the saviors to my frazzled nerves. I commend us all for rallying and making it out to a Los Gatos Halloween... and then falling into the same bed (even though there were two) at the end of the night, mumbling about just how much we miss this, and laughing and laughing and laughing until we all fell silent, asleep in a pile.

That still wasn't all.

Lucky us, we reunited with a favorite professor's family and were able to reminisce about our Croatian days of yore as we cuddled their new puppy and listened to Louis CK's standup comedy.

THAT STILL WASN'T ALL.

Hanna met the three of us in the dark parking lot of a Nordstrom, and we rode off happily into the night, towards the general direction of Taco Bell even though we all claimed to be "really, really full."

*A 30$ Taco Bell order later*

Happiness is here, with you three, in a car, talking over each other and struggling to find the right route even though we've lived here for four years and also I'm sure Siri wouldn't mind helping but WE CAN DO IT GOSH DANGIT.

It's a triumphant polishing off of every Fiery Dorito Cheesy Gordita Crunch crumb, and then a subsequent visit to get boba because screw being healthy, we don't do healthy when it's the four of us together. It's talking too loud about everything inappropriate, it's the uncontrollable giggles, it's the "remember when's" and the life updates and everything in between. 

As I'm writing this, it is pouring outside – which seems extremely surreal actually because it's been raining through the night and I thought California's been in a drought?? Bring on the rain, I say! – and I'm soaked to the bone, but I can feel the joy pulsating outwards from my heart, truly. I know that's cheesy, but at the end of the day, I'm never one to turn down cheese. In any form. These past few days – full of family, friends, family who over the years I have come to like as friends, and friends who over the years have become close like family, love, food, laughter, and sunshine – are days that I'll cherish for a lifetime. Strong words, but if only you knew how much I mean them.
And now, some coffee.
I would like to rejoice in your happy things too. Please share what's been making you beam recently!