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Disclaimer: Possibly not for those who are currently made teary-eyed easily. About a year ago I came to a small list of things (people) who I deemed required to be around for my wedding. They are as follows: (1) My dad. Of course, it's every girl's wish, maybe even need, for her dad to walk her down the aisle. It's a definite requirement for me. (2) My grandma. Come on, she's my grandma, and she's still cool as heck. I want her to see me there all dolled up. (3) My great aunts and uncle. It's true, I don't seem them often, but it's the principle. They have so much life experience and I know that they've been to so many weddings during their lifetime, but I wanted them to come to mine . And yes, I knew that they were old seven years ago, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't hurt a little when the reality checks keep coming in that this one may not happen.

Where do you see yourself in five years? That is the question that Ryan asked me the other day in class. My response? I turned to him and replied with the utmost honesty: I have no idea . It scared me a little, that I realized I really don't have any clue anymore. If you would have asked me two months ago, even two weeks ago, I could have told you. "This and this, and I want to do this, and I'm going to have this, and I'm going to do this, and this is how it's all going to work out." Now though? No clue. I mean, yea, sure I have my wishes, I have my plans, but where does that get me? Nowhere. Yes, I can plan it all out, but what happens if it doesn't work out that way? I don't exactly have a back up plan. I certainly don't want to be in school for the rest of my life, trying to figure it out. And realistically, I still want those things I wanted two months ago, two weeks ago, but things have changed. So, Dear Mr. Lewis University Staff Memb...

* a wraparound porch (you know, one of those old fashioned ones with a swing on it so you can sit on it and watch the life out on the streets) * a fireplace (preferably in the 'family room') * an island (in my red kitchen) * a balcony (overlooking the backyard view, of course) * a big backyard (just big enough for kids to run around in and have a tree and a garden and still have room to breathe and enjoy)