Important things to know ...

Tonight I learned that married daughters never, ever accompany their parents to wedding receptions without their husbands. This knowledge came at quite a cost.

The following account is true. As in not exaggerated. I know I sometimes do exaggerate. But tonight I am polishing my skills from journalism school and using only facts.

Tonight I accompanied my parents to a wedding reception. I did this because I like the bride. And because I received my very own invitation, as in separate from my parents, even though I know the bride because her dad knows my dad from back in the day. As in their high school days. This means that my dad saw a plethora of old friends from back in the day. And that is all the background you need.

Conversation #1, with the Happy Couple.
Me: Congratulations!
Bride, to Groom: This is Callie. Callie, Groom has cute younger brothers.
Groom: How old are you?
Me: 27
Groom, after slight pause: Oh. I am 27 too.
Me: Well, congratulations.

Conversation #2, with Random Relative of Bride, directly after conversation with Happy Couple.
Dad: This is my daughter, Callie
Random Relative: Oh, I have some sons.
Callie: How nice.
Random Relative: How old are you?
Callie: 27.
Random Relative: Well, I think my sons might be too young for you. Here's one. (Inviting 20-year-old son to join in the fun.)
Callie: Nice to meet you. (Note: I just accidentally typed "meat" you. Sums up my feelings well.)

Conversation #3, very near the exit, hindering our escape, with a Random Old Friend of my father and the Mother of the Bride.
Dad: Callie, this is my Random Old Friend.
Random Old Friend: Nice to meet you. I have sons!
Mother of the Bride: They are very attractive! Are they attached?
Random Old Friend: One of them is married. But one is not. How old are you?
Callie: I am 27.
Dad: Callie is in law school.
Mom: We have another daughter, too. She looks just like this one, only she is 22.
Husband of Random Old Friend: We will take the lawyer. Every man needs a lawyer.

I would like to note that throughout most of these encounters, my left hand remained firmly planted in my pocket. Which means that for all these people knew, I had a lovely diamond ring encircling my finger and a husband at home tending our triplets. Which would obviously explain me attending the reception with my parents ...

This discovery brought to you by the letter "a" ...

I have been studying for what feels like forever. But just now, I discovered something. Look closely at the difference between Callie and Callie. Then consider that this discovery seemed exciting to me. Then realize the state of my life. Good thing I finish my finals in the morning ...

The week of my finals ...

In Capital C tradition, I thought up the following when I should have been studying this week. It is rather pathetic, to be sure, but I am sick of the last post ...

'Twas the week of my finals
When all through my dwelling
Some roommates were studying
With a few bouts of yelling.

The lights have been strung
Round the windows with care
And the wreath has been hung
More than once, to be fair.

Four girls were nestled
In rooms freezing cold
While the fifth one complains
Of the heat (well, she's old).

When out on the lawn,
Where no snow remains,
We heard a faint sound,
A small omen of change.

We flew to the doorway
To take in the sight
Of our leaves disappearing,
Finally ending our plight.

The huge pile of leaves
That had cluttered our drive
Had been rained on and snowed on,
But still it survived.

The men in the truck
Came and picked up the pile
And allowed a return
TO our old parking style.

Now the leaves are all gone
That last symbol of fall,
So we gladly exclaim,
Happy Christmas to all!