Texas Again, This Time For A Wedding

We went to Texas!  

For less than 24 hours for the wedding of one of Greg's work friends.

The floor of the airport was creative!

And there were strange wormy sculptures outside.

Here's Play-viation Park!  

Our gate kept changing, but we eventually got there!

We both shared my beautiful new suitcase because

we didn't need more room than that.

Here's what I wore.

sweater: Ross
blouse: A New Day (Target)
bag: Amazon (I think!)
pants: INC International Concepts (Macy's)
socks & shoes: Target

Dallas was cold when we arrived!  We could see our breath!

It misted or rained almost the entire time we were there.

I took pretzels and dried mangoes on the plane, in addition

to some baked potato wedges (I didn't like them cold) and a veggie burger (it crumbled).

Before a bridge, there was always a sign,

"Bridge may be icy in cold weather".

And the tags (which are normally on license plates in other states)

was in the inside of the car in the windshield!

Greg said it's because so many were getting stolen off cars.

Plano was our goal!

Before we checked into our hotel, we got some food at my favorite restaurant:

SALATA!!!

MMMmm! Such a BIG salad!

Before . . . 

After!

(That olive jumped out and fell on the table,

so I didn't eat him).

We found our hotel, never fear!

There's an Ikea out there.

Pretty bathroom (but terrible lighting).

After awhile resting and reading, we got ready for the wedding.

I wore this (trade in ballet flats for the slippers!)

dress: Ross
tights, slippers: Target
bag: ?

I wore earrings brought back from India specifically for me by

the wife of a friend of Greg's (thanks, Pooja!).

Indians tend to be relaxed with their time schedules,

and we arrived right at the time mentioned in the invitation . . . 

so we got to see a lot of the set-up!

Look at this beautiful mandap!

Here the groom, his mother, and two cousins (the young women)

arrive at the venue and are welcomed by the bride's family 

with anointing and fruit.

There was a lot of food symbolism.

We threw turmeric rice on the couple more than once.

They piled rice on each other's heads, too!

It was a game, it seemed.

But I read up a bit, and it may also be meant as a way to help open

their consciousness to their new responsibilities and situation in life

(turmeric is detoxifying and helps the brain pathways to open, supposedly).

They also smeared a paste of jaggery (a type of coarse brown sugar)

and cumin on each other's heads and held it there quite a long time.

Here you can see some more of the outfits.

Obviously some people wore traditional clothing and some wore Western clothing.

The groom usually looks insane in photos, but this is the best photo we got of

the whole group of Greg's work friends. Can you see me?

Only married ladies got the dot and an annointing. 

The groom's mom was sweet and careful to explain to me that it was a way

of connecting happy marriages to the new bride and wishes for her to have a happy marriage.

I think that's lovely!

Here are a couple of photos of him looking happy!

Not only was rice a symbol, but we got to EAT yummy rice!

I chose the plainest, least spicy things.

I was REALLY tired afterwards (the rituals were still going on

when we left at 10:30 pm), but I still was able to smile a bit.

The next morning, we got up to head back to the airport again.

Here's what I was wearing:

jacket: Maison Jules (Macy's)
sweater: Ross
blouse: Charter Club (Macy's)
pants: 89th & Madison (Ross)
socks & shoes: Target

It was misting again.

We stopped at Natural Grocers to check it out

because we had some time before Salata opened again.

It was COLD.  In the 20s, I think, and quite windy.

I walked from the grocery store (where I bought a chocolate bar)

to Chipotle (where Greg got lunch).  Greg drove!

Then we headed to Salata again (a different one) 

so I could have a tasty lunch!

It was CHILLY waiting to return the rental car in the wind!

Can you see us in the mirror in the bus to the terminal?

I bought some sparkling water, and it was quite sparkly! 

Lots of bubbles!

This is one of the best stained glass windows I've ever seen.

It was in the chapel.

I did some reading and worked on solving some anagram puzzles

(I hate anagrams, but I struggled with them until I figure them out!  One of them

took me two days.)  I probably should practice a happy pleasant resting thinking face, but

when I'm thinking, I don't think about looking pleasant.

More pretzels, water, cran-apple juice.

We had a moment in Oklahoma City, and then we were on

to Phoenix!

This layer of clouds looks like tall mountains.

Look!  There's the Grand Canyon!

Snow along the lip of the canyon.

And then we were home!

Thanks to Dad and Mom for welcoming us home and picking us

up from the airport.