Oh, I Knew It!

My baby brother is getting married!

Well, I mean, I don't actually have a baby brother.  Or any brother.  But I did spend a great deal of my childhood with two other families -- camping and playing -- to the point that it feels like all seven kids are siblings.  So, he's like my baby brother.

Well, I mean, minus the baby part.  He's two years younger, but he's had all that adult stuff down for quite some time now: He's a teacher, a coach, a really devoted son, and the best brother I've ever seen.  And I've seen a lot of brothers.  Just not my own.

So for the sake of the story, let's say he's my brother.  His name is Lucas, by the way.  He lives in Boise.  He went to the University of Oregon and is an avid Duck fan.  He officiated at his sister's (and my best friend Tara's) wedding. He's a damn good storyteller.  I think that's all you need to know for now.

About three years ago, he introduced us to this lovely lady named Leslie.

Let me pause for a minute here.  Have you ever had that experience where a really cute guy asks you out and your mind is suddenly going to that crazy place?  You know, the place where you can see yourself at the altar and having his kids and you haven't even had a cup of coffee with him yet?

I've never had that experience.

When I met Leslie, though, I totally had that experience, except that instead of seeing myself with her, I was seeing my friend/brother Lucas with her.  I kid you not.  I very clearly remember it -- we were drinking iced tea out on my parents' back deck and it was an incredibly hot day, and this girl who we had never met before was sitting with the group and it was so natural, I forgot it was our first time meeting her.  

So there I am, having that crazy wedding fantasy and picking the dress and the flowers and everything ...  Here comes the briiiiiiiiide ...and then I of course had to look up and realize that we're all still just sitting around the deck, drinking iced tea and talking about the weather.

Internally, I was thinking, "He has to marry this girl!"  Externally, I played it cool.  I can't remember how long they'd been together at that point, but it was briefly enough that I could have caused a serious freak-out if I let anyone in on the future that I was planning for them in my mind.

"Kristen, why are you spacing out?"

"Oh, I was just thinking about the beautiful children you're going to have someday..."

Not cool.  I kept my lips zipped.

So, I waited it out and let the years pass.  Every time I saw Leslie, the crazy "He must never let this one go!" feeling returned.  It was partly a testament to her solo personality: She's engaging, clever, funny and fun.

And it was partly because of how they were as a couple.  They complement each other so well, mesh together so nicely.  They're not being all lovey -dovey and gross and annoying, but they show -- with their words and actions -- how much they care about and respect each other.  It's in the looks, the gestures, the language.  It's in the way they laugh at each other's jokes, boast of each other's accomplishments, include each other in everything.  

I honestly think that to see the two of them together is to see what love is supposed to look like.

So this weekend, my baby brother proposed to Leslie.  He made a picture-filled book, depicting their life together.  He gave her a ruby ring and she said yes.

Yes!

And I can finally go public with this wedding fantasy I've been harboring all these years!