This weekend we headed to the charming Napa Valley town Healdsburg for the wedding of one of Bills college roommates. We had an amazing time being with our best friends…but these types of events are always a little tough. For a long time we declined invitations, missed the important milestones of some very dear friends, or only one of us would attend. We werent ready. It felt too difficult and too dangerous. And then last year, Bills best friend got married (remember this gorgeousness?) and we knew we had to push ourselves. And we did. And it felt good…really good.
But, these things are tricky — SMA makes it tricky. Sometimes we want so desperately to take a break from SMA, just a few hours, just pretend for a moment that this isnt our life. Im not meaning a break from Gwendolyn — I mean a break from the logistics and reality of this no-good, awful disease. But, SMA is so sucky that no matter how much we try, it dominates everything. And that is just plain hard.
But….we try. We stayed at a swanky boutique hotel. (Gwendolyn loved it!) We got all gussied up two nights in a row. (My heels were insane.) We went out to long lunches and drank good wine. (Nothing like the fresh food and wine in Napa.) We lounged in the spa. (The first thing Gwendolyn wanted to do.) We talked the night away and had so much fun with our dearest friends whom we rarely get to see. And while it isnt easy and we dont get a break from SMA, perhaps for a few minutes, in the midst of a college reminiscent story, in the heartiness of laughter, we get to feel normal. And we relish it. And are so thankful to have such incredible friends who allow that to happen! We love you guys and miss you already!!!