Escaping the canyon (and Arizona) for Texas was a huge shock--and very much like a homecoming. You'd have to understand my family dynamics: most of my "relatives" aren't blood-related, they're my dad's high school & college friends. So going back to San Antonio and family was most definitely a welcome relief!
I flew from Flagstaff to Phoenix on the tiniest, dual-prop death trap (Dash 8) that couldn't seem to stay in the air. When I get nervous, which I often do flying, I grab the armrests. Which would be fine except when the plane drops a few hundred feet and your hands fly up, the armrests go with you. All in all not the most reassuring experience. I think I was hyperventilating the whole time.
But the flight was well worth it. In San Antonio, the party had already begun for the wedding weekend. There are very few people left in this world with that old-style Italian hospitality, but this family is truly one of them. I don't think I've ever been fed so well in my life (sorry, mom).
The weekend was a blur of good food (I think I gained 10 lbs this weekend), old friends, dancing, and tears. The wedding itself was outside in the grass, with rose petals lining the way from clubhouse to patio. It was like a wedding you'd see in a movie, not real life, with someone singing the wedding party down the aisle and the sun setting in the background.
I also found myself in a special little cult of Penn Staters. I think I ran into someone from every year from Penn State since my dad was there back in the day... Even someone who graduated two years before me from the College of Comm. It was like knowing the secret handshake or just having the right background, "You went to Penn State?! Well, come over here and talk to us then!"
I didn't get the most amazing pictures because I was so distracted by everything going on, but here are some of them:
The brunch the day before the wedding was at the neighborhood clubhouse--and it was all Texas-themed. I find most things in Texas are Texas-themed, and being Texan (partially) myself, I thought it was best Texas brunch I'd ever been to.
Check out this pool!
Saturday night's dinner was held in downtown San Antonio at Casa Rio--Ironically, where dad and I went during the Alamobowl the last time we were in San Antonio. I didn't get any other good pics of the Riverwalk because it was too dark and crowded by the time we made our way down there after dinner.
Now I want to say that normally I don't put up pictures of people I know, but I had to share these of the actual wedding ceremony:
And then it was party time!
I was sad to leave Texas, but like always, I knew it wouldn't be long before I was drawn back to my lone-star state.
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