Dallas

I've been wanting to write about this for a long time but I haven't been sure quite how to.

On the drive out, nothing happened that was very eventful.  We got to see our great aunt and uncle, we talked a lot, and listened to the audio rendition of The Beautiful and the Damned.  I hadn't realized how much I had missed spending time with Carissa, nor how much our lives had grown apart since we were young and under the same roof.  I also had forgotten how similar we are and how nice it was to be around someone so like minded (is that self-praising to say? I don't mean it to be).

We got there late, after making about 35 U-turns on the unnecessarily and insanely confusing Dallas freeways.  The next morning, we got coffee around the corner and then I worked while Carissa helped Paige get ready for the wedding.

Later, we arrived at the wedding - practically late of course - but settled into the very last pew just a few minutes before the opening chorus started.  It was an elegant and beautiful ceremony, absolutely perfect for Audrea.  At the reception, Carissa and I immediately grabbed cocktails and appetizers and went outside to enjoy the humid Texas evening air.  "We have to take pictures of us for mom", I kept saying as I knew she wanted them.  I took a total of one picture at the ceremony, none with us in it.

We quickly met some of the absolute nicest and coolest people.  After a few minutes of talking, we had already been invited to 3 different households.  I guess there is something to be said for Southern hospitality.  The reception was fun - we danced hard and long until it was time to leave.  As the bride and groom were exciting under our petal showers, a real Texas shower began with ground shattering thunder and lightning.  We both became extremely excited and I danced under the rain.  Rain feels so much more refreshing in humid climates.

Back at Paige and Caleb's apartment, many of us continued the celebration.  It was the first time I had drank with Carissa, which I realized was an unusual happening for siblings to take place so late in life.  We played beer pong, joked, laughed so hard. Carissa and I talked about so many things I never thought we would - misbehavior of the past and such.  Up until 4am, we all crashed in the living room and woke up late to make a large breakfast feast.

Returning to the Taylor's later that day, we said our hello's and enjoyed the immensely large family gathering.  We went to the lake and lazily spent the day cliff jumping and relaxing in the bathtub-like water.  It was a simple and pure day.

We later plotted our night plans. Pre-game, Brewery, and then Piano Bar.  If only it happened that simply.  I fell to my weakness for free alcohol and was extremely drunk at the second step in the plan.  We won at cornhole (or so I think) and then moved on to the Piano Bar.  One moment I'm upstairs with the guys and the next I'm sitting below drinking the shots and Bachelorette bowl out of penis straws that Paige purchased.  Paige got on stage and straddled the piano bench while I blacked out.  I blame it on Paige and her damn bachelorette bowl.

The next morning, I awoke to find myself in an obnoxiously bright and color coordinated Golden State Warriors outfit.  I turned to my side and saw Paige's naked body.  The rest of what happened I will keep vague but it was relayed to me as these string of events.... Paige blacking out and punching a homeless man, Lauren almost getting hit by a car, Lauren throwing up quietly on Carissa's lap in the back of an Uber and more..... all in all, I ended up being dressed with coordination while Paige was stripped completely.

I will never forget how hard we all laughed about the night's events.  It had been an extremely long time since I had gotten trashed like that, but alas, what is a cheap girl supposed to do in lew of free things (until I looked at my credit card statement recently and found an interesting charge from a certain Piano Bar.....)?  The drive back was eventful.  We saw so many awful accidents, one in which we felt we could have almost been apart of.

Why am I writing this?  There was something unique I felt on that trip.  Something that made me depressed for days when I got back.  An emotional connection to a life that was not my own?  Or, to spending time with my sister in a way I honestly haven't done in years.  It also may have been spending whole days with all the awesome and fun people and realizing sometimes that contagious kindness and craziness is hard to find.  I'm not sure what it was, but I will never forget it.