Last Thoughts as Single Josh

So it’s my last bedtime as a single guy.  One of my groomsmen is asleep behind me on the couch, so I’m typing quietly.  His job will be to make sure I get to the hotel on time tomorrow and that my pants are not on backwards, among other things.  If there are papparazzi – and, this being New York, you never know – he will keep them away from me.

Tonight I said “Good night, Miss Cox” for the last time… unless I meet someone else with that last name, I suppose, but the POINT should be clear.  And I don’t actually say “Good night, Miss Cox” every night, but tonight I said it with a particular aplomb.  We smiled, and then I left her at the hotel with her attendants and came home.

I hope I remember my vows.  Hell, I hope I remember the English language.  My Uncle Reverend will say “Do You Josh” and I’ll probably say blalllbyjiggmathnaut followed by some completely random string of words spoken in perfect Greek.

And the whole thing is just so simple and thrilling.  I’m starting a whole new forever in about twelve and a half hours.  Okay.  Well, I started that future when I said “Will you marry me” and all that, but we’re declaring it out loud and giving it a name and a pair of rings to prove it, in front of a hundred and million people, in about twelve and a half hours.  I don’t know how I’m going to sleep tonight, but I’d better try so I don’t do something even more careless and embarrassing than speaking flawless Greek by accident.

Also, I need to pack an overnight bag.  I’ll want my toothbrush, and I’ll definitely want open-toed shoes.  Maybe snacks.

Today was pretty great, by the way.  At first it was a huge overwhelm, having eight parents and two grandparents and a half dozen attendants all in the same place, and wanting to talk to everyone at the same time and not knowing where to start.  Everyone got introduced to everyone, though, and got along well, and by the end of the day we were all old friends.  My guys and I had sushi, and went to play pool where we were all about the same skill level (that level being ‘hilarious’), then we had a wedding-rehearsal and then a rehearsal dinner and then a little while to just hang out together and relax before going to our separate beds.  Calm before the storm.

Speaking of storm, there was a doozy of a storm for about an hour while we were having dinner.  Everyone bracing themselves against the wind, umbrellas disemboweled, kind of a storm.  Blowing lit candle holders and place settings off of outdoor tables, kind of a storm.  Really glad we were watching it from indoors, kind of a storm.  It was beautiful, powerful and awesome.  Afterward the sky was amazingly pink and orange and full of cotton ball clouds, like a Renaissance painting or a cheesy greeting card, and we all stood outside with our mouths open and our eyes shining.

I’m so excited to be married.  I’m not used to that much attention, but tomorrow I’m just gonna stand there and dig it, with my bride right next to me.

Till tomorrow, then.

~ by joshkauffman on June 26, 2009.