So what to tell you about Atlanta?

The flight, she was not good. The shopping? She was good. Too good. I knew I was in trouble when I walked into Crate and Barrel and had an orgasm. I was in bigger trouble when I walked into shoe shops and had multiple ones. Between us, we bought 8 pairs of shoes. I spent a fortune in Sephora. Target saw about $450 head its way. Krogers saw a great deal of worshipping. Old Navy, J Crew, Eddie Bauer, and more all got visits.

As did Samsonite.

We had to buy a new suitcase, although to be frank, that was our aim anyway-our current suitcase is very small and bashed up, we needed a new one and knew we'd buy one in the States. We found a retail outlet and bought a $400 suitcase for $149, which I felt was a sparkling deal.

It's true we spent a lot of money. At the end of it all, we looked at something like $2000 spent there (and I'm honestly not boastful about that, in fact it makes me cringe a bit), but I'll be honest-goods in the U.S. cost so much less than they do here. We almost never buy shoes here as they cost several times over what they do there. The only tiny Sephora that they had in London closed, and a bottle of Philosophy 3 in 1 shower gel cost $16. Here, they cost £24, which is US £48. See the business case? And we got his kids' Christmas shopping largely done, some of his family, and I can finally throw out my 5 year old heels in favor of my cute new ones.

In all I feel good about some things we have-I have a Thanksgiving tablecloth now. Fleecy Target Christmas toe socks. Several books. And Elf on DVD, of course. Christmas ornaments, stuff to make fantasy fudge at Christmas, stocking holders for the fireplace. Long sleeve shirts and fleece pajamas pants. All things that I miss, that I love, that I wanted, that my pound goes further for in the States than here and most of which I can't even get here.

I got to spend time with my beloved TV, reading trashy goss magazines. I did so with a bottle of champagne. You know, as you do.

Atlanta was OK-the bride's family is from the posh end of town, called Buckhead, so that's where the wedding was. We stayed in that area, and were caught up in wedding activities every day. I barely saw my friend, but then again it was his wedding, so I couldn't expect any more than that. His friends were great-we had dinner with one couple on Sunday night that we got to know at the wedding rehearsal, and whom we invited to come visit and were genuine about it.

Atlanta itself was rocking the Autumn colors. It was amazing.

We got a spare bit of time at Amicalola Falls and enjoyed the beautiful views and the smell-the smell was amazing. New Fall smells like the bottom of a fresh lunch paper bag. The Falls were serenity itself, the area completely relaxing.

I was aghast at the colors-spectacular and calming all at once.

The wedding itself was traditional in every sense-conservative, on a very large scale, and following every known ritual and wedding tradition known to US weddings (and I have to be honest-I find that song, that Wagner Lohengrin song "Here Comes the Bride" the creepiest, most terrifying song in history. To me it sounds so ominous and oppressive. I have never used it in my weddings, and never will. It freaks me out.)

As for me, I bucked my usual tradition of wearing black. I wore new strappy shoes and a new sparkly shawl and a dress that Angus bought me in Scotland.

Me? I wore red.

The wedding was a usual wedding, then off to the reception, which was held in a gala ballroom.

We talked about weddings on our way over to the reception. Angus is nervous about marriage, as we've both been there before. He agreed we probably would get married someday, which I agree with. But we both thought about the massive wedding we'd just seen-the wedding was beautiful, extravagant and luxe, a church affair with all the trimmings. And he and I have both had a wedding like that before.

We agreed the next time? We don't want that. Everyone needs a fairy tale, a lovely white gown and a shiny setting to marry in. But if you trip and fall out of your marriage, the next one? That wedding is for you. We agreed that if we got married, we'd hire out somewhere like the place we love in Wales. We'd invite our closest friends and some of our family out there for a weekend of hanging out, laughing, and relaxing, then an informal wedding. Personally, I want to get away to an island and elope, just the two of us, but that's a step too far for the boy-he's more traditional, and more family oriented in terms of celebrations and holidays.

The reception was ok-we were sat at a table full of telecom people as we are, both of us, in telecom too. Never mind that the dinner was full of talk of babies being born, etc, from the wives (oh. my. God.) We made some friends, we danced a lot, and we loved seeing my friend look so incredibly happy (he cried at the service. I knew he would. All of his other friends said he absolutely wouldn't, but I knew he would. He and I have always been close, we can finish each other's sentences. We go months without talking, but when we talk again? It's just like we spoke yesterday. I knew he'd cry.)

So that was that.

Shopping, wedding, reception, one day with wedding party people, then home (and a big argument on the way home).

And as for the dress, I loved it, and so did he.

- H.

Posted by: Everydaystranger at 11:34 AM | Comments (18) | Add Comment
Post contains 1013 words, total size 6 kb.

1 Sounds like a blast! I share your love of Target. I never knew how much until they closed the one by my house to remodel it. It was 9 months of pure hell, but the new store is really kick-ass!

Posted by: ~Easy at November 09, 2006 12:35 PM (FKBK3)

2 you look great in that dress! and i love the strappy shoes too

Posted by: geeky at November 09, 2006 02:08 PM (ziVl9)

3 You look beautiful! Aw, man, you were in Buckhead? While I technically live in Buckhead, I'm over by the Lenox Mall.

Posted by: amber at November 09, 2006 02:40 PM (5PLeA)

4 You look amazing! I can't wait to finally go back to the US next fall to get some new clothes - it'll have been 6 years and these jeans just don't fit right

Posted by: Hannah at November 09, 2006 02:54 PM (ImQx2)

5 AMBER! We stayed right next to the Lenox Mall! We even walked there one day! I was in your hood, babe!

Posted by: Helen at November 09, 2006 03:00 PM (fTpcP)

6 Love the red dress! I think I tend to go the more subdued route with what I wear to weddings because it's been somewhat ingrained in me, this stupid idea of not outshining the bride. As if that were possible! Totally hear you on the textbook church wedding. When I can predict almost every detail of a wedding, I get a little bored. Hence my need to run off to someplace tropical for mine!

Posted by: felicity at November 09, 2006 05:28 PM (Q2Vug)

7 Every time I see a picture of you, I am amazed at how luminous your beauty is. You must never need a nightlight -- there is a glow about you that I think is so beautiful. xoxo

Posted by: Just Me at November 09, 2006 06:49 PM (pZJ3T)

8 Darling you looked spectacular! Love that red dress.

Posted by: caltechgirl at November 09, 2006 08:21 PM (/vgMZ)

9 Told'ja the fall colors in the North Georgia mountains were something to see. Glad to hear you got away from the city long enough to experience them. And I happened to be in Buckhead last week, attending a seminar at the Westin Buckhead, next door to Lenox Square. You wouldn't happen to have been staying close by there, were you?

Posted by: diamond dave at November 09, 2006 09:32 PM (iYAb6)

10 Helen, you look lovely in your red dress. Happy, too, which is good.

Posted by: physics geek at November 09, 2006 10:10 PM (KqeHJ)

11 RED is your color!!

Posted by: kenju at November 09, 2006 10:17 PM (L8e9z)

12 Yes Yes the dress is lovely BUT I want to know more about "fantasy fudge" !!! ~grin~

Posted by: Mia at November 09, 2006 11:11 PM (oey4w)

13 You left out the part about the radio active lucky charms. I know you pooped out the radio active and admired the pretty neon colors. I can't wait to get back east. Only five hours to London via plane.

Posted by: statia at November 09, 2006 11:49 PM (KcrOI)

14 I had a small wedding, which was apparently a revelation to my cousin, who had only ever seen the "spend thousands on flowers and pretty stuff you'll use once and invite everybody you know" kind of wedding. She got married in the middle of a ten-kilometer run. They stopped in a park, had the service, and finished the race together. She even had a veil. "The bride wore running shoes..."

Posted by: B. Durbin at November 10, 2006 01:48 AM (tie24)

15 Diamond Dave, we were next door-I was in the Embassy Suites, which shares a drive with the Westin

Posted by: Helen at November 10, 2006 12:46 PM (bkT68)

16 I didn't do the "Here Comes the Bride Thing" either. I walked down the "aisle" (as much of an aisle as you can have outside in Jamaica) to Sarah McLachlan's Touch and I loved it. From the first moment I heard that song, I knew it would be the one that I'd walk down the aisle to and it was just as amazing as I'd hoped it would be. That Sarah, she never lets me down.

Posted by: girl at November 10, 2006 02:26 PM (z6Kyx)

17 Hot damn, Helen! You look FANTASTIC in red! You should wear that more often. It really is the color for you...it compliments your hair and your complexion and makes you look ravishing!

Posted by: Serenity at November 11, 2006 05:52 AM (5BEyw)

18 Helen, you look amazing in that dress. And the shawl...beautiful. I had forgotten how glorious fall can be, as we have none to speak of here. The Hubs and I spent passed through Atlanta this weekend on the way to visit family and fell in love with one of the 'burbs north of the city.

Posted by: selzach at November 13, 2006 01:13 PM (liGMP)

Hide Comments | Add Comment