Whooooosh.

I’ve had this sort of mental blockage. I mean, OBV. I haven’t been here in forever and a half. But it’s not necessarily a bad thing. I’ve been SILLY busy. I’ve been blogging over at Broke-Ass Bride and a little over at Jackson’s newest dining blog, Dishing, and trying to pimp my awesome self out (shameless self-plug) AND maintaining my real job. It’s a little amazing I have my own head on straight right now.

I’m super stoked, because I just got hired by BAB to be the new accounts manager. I’ve been picking up more and more side jobs (you guys, social media? SUPER WHERE IT’S AT). Aussie starts his new job in a few days. Summer is trying really really really hard to break through in the valley. Yeah … it’s all a little cray up in here.

But, I’m leaving in two days. Going on a 10-day vacation. Hanging out with mi surrogate familia. Going somewhere I’ve never been. There’s a possibility of horse races. There’s a confirmation on tons of bourbon and I even get to go to the Louisville Slugger factory (OMG!!!). I get to go watch my girl, one of my favorite people, get married.

I’ve been to a handful of weddings, mostly aunts and uncles. I’ve never seen a friend, at least one my age (I was there for the bride’s mother’s wedding), take the plunge. Knowing how she’s feeling, what she’s going through, the stress, anticipation, anxiety, giddiness … all I want to do is make things easier, more peaceful, for her and those around her.

So, as I told her sister, mother and her, I’ll be donning my superhero cape for the next week. I’m taking away all close cellphones the day before. I’m going to make sure people are where they need to be, when they need to be there. I’ll slip the bride, mom and sister a flask of whiskey if necessary. I’ma do this, because I remember this feeling. And her mom and my best friend did it for me on my wedding day. It’s time for me to pay it forward.

It was nearly a year ago that I was in a similar boat. Though, I think by going to Hawaii, we made it significantly easier on ourselves. Less people, less logistical issues, more chillin’. But, don’t get me wrong, there was still an extremely palpable amount of stress. And so much of that comes from expectations — expectations you put on yourself, expectations from family, expectations from friends, expectations you put on others. When it’s over and that feeling of ease — nay, relief — washes over you, that’s when you realize how many expectations were all-consuming.

So, my job, one that I wasn’t asked to do but will do because it needs to be done, will be to manage those expectations in a way that helps reduce everyone else’s stress. And I’m excited about doing so, because I want my Shannyface to have an amazing and wonderful experience. I want Kellyface to be able to enjoy watching her sis get hitched. I want Mamaface to be the emotional blob I know she will be without any nagging quandaries. I got this.