Wrangler Dani

Editor’s note: Sorry for the rambling nature of this post, I just started writing without a topic in mind and this is what came. Now you know what I think about… and you’re welcome for the editing that usually happens.

It’s true, my friends. (Little John McCain reference there), my days as a single woman are numbered. Thirty, to be exact. When did this happen? When did I become old enough to have an apartment that I’m “fixing up” with A MAN?! Sometimes it feels totally normal, but when I stand back and really think about it, it actually quite freaky – in a delicious way, of course.

I think my mom and dad are as excited about our coming home as we are – I’ve been talking to them nearly every day – what kind of soup would we like for Christmas Eve? How are the roads? How’s the weather? White Christmas! I haven’t been home since last Christmas and that’s far too long to go without wide open spaces and snowy mountains and mom’s amazing cooking and the fresh smells of wood smoke and hay.  No livestock this year, which makes me sad, as “feeding”, running my fingers through rough hair and being blinked at by soft brown eyes is always a highlight of going home.

I feel starved for real things: rolls made from scratch, wood-burning stoves and the rhythym of a life more dependent on sunshine and sweat then laptops and flourescent bulbs.  We had people over for my birthday last week, and it was exactly what my weary heart needed. We had a bonfire on the beach and food indoors – by nine o’clock the house was fairly bursting with warm hearts and laughter and I felt so blessed.

The original Hot D (my BFF/MOH/pretty much wedding pro) hosted a bridal shower for me at her house the same weekend – and once again I was overwhelmed with love.  We ate cake and munchies and played games about Adam and I! Ah! I have been to countless showers, but here the theme was me and my love. What an overwhelming, incredible experience.  Anyone who knows me knows I love presents, (I WANT PRESENTS! 😉 ) and I got some awesome ones – Margaritas! Coffee! Christmas! but one of the coolest was from Kim… a toiletrie bag monogrammed with my new initials. You’d think I’d be ready, and that doodling “Dani Nichols” on my lunch napkin every day… i mean, um, once or twice…  would have me prepared. Nope. I’m pretty sure my face turned every color of the rainbow and I just hugged it in shock and teary joy.  I’m getting married. To a man who loves me and is my perfect match. I say it over and over, but it still doesn’t feel real.

Five days ’til Christmas. Three days ’til Home. Thirty days ’til Wedding. Oh holy hotcakes.