It was a wedding of earth, sky, and cowboy boots. I was blessed to catch a glimpse of Heather Bruce when I peeked into the kitchen in search of snacks. She was in the nearby room fixing her dress. Her hair was perfectly flowing over her robust arms …the sight left me satiated. She is just a naturally beautiful woman. We met in Italy, surrounded by wine, cobblestones, and youth. She’s always hungered for a keen sensation, something exciting. Her laugh and energy is captivating. I was aware of her addictive properties from the moment I met her. Handsome Jake Buckingham must have felt the same attraction.
The bridesmaids were not dressed in uniform outfits, which some may say is a sign that the bride is sane. The officiant was a friend, not a priest. The mason jars and cow skulls effected a modicum of comedy, while the vows and speeches were in all seriousness about devotion and love. We were steeped in adoration as we watched the ceremony; two of our favorite people inviting us to join them on a very special day. Heather and Jake’s parents were intimate in their conversations with us. Heather’s father told me Jake was “even better than Heather hyped him up to be.” One of my favorite moments was talking with Heather’s glowing mother and grandma, because standing next to three generations of women reminded me that our last page in life is always latent in our first.In our peripheral vision we could see the youngsters climb trees, discover tarantulas, and don fake mustaches. Jake’s sisters were refreshingly engaging and told me personal stories. Everyone I met was so kind and friendly. It was hard to feel like an outsider. I wondered if Heather and Jake are magnets to extremely nice people or if they, simply, bring out the best qualities in others. I tend to believe the latter. This was proven when the best man started sniveling at the altar before the ceremonies even began. They evoke something extraordinary in everyone they meet. Before meeting Jake last year, I wrote him a message that read: Heather is awesome. Sincerely, Creepy. Jake responded with: Shh…Don’t Tell Her. I was impressed that he wasn’t scared by my psychotic message, I was honored by his prompt reply, and I was happy for Heather that he was funny. A year later, I watched as Jake walked over to everyone at the wedding to ask if we were having a good time. Great guy. When I lived in Austin seven years ago without a car, I walked everywhere. For my recent visit, I spent most of my transit on the back of my dear friend’s scooter- I went from channeling Moses to championing Motorcades. I’m older and things are certainly moving faster. It’s the hope that despite the speed, we’ll all have someone to share the journey with. I met Heather in a country known for romance and I was so happy to witness her embrace love this weekend.