strange emotions

I went to Andy and Pam's wedding this weekend. Pam was beautiful and they both looked so happy. It was an absolutely beautiful wedding. Strangely enough, as soon as I saw Andy at the front of the church, I started to cry. He looked so happy, and of course I was happy for him, but this was the end of an era. Andy is the first of my friends from college to get married. I met him at the end of freshman year sitting outside on Stine Lake, studying for finals. From the beginning Andy and I had a love hate relationship; although it started out with much more hate than love. Shortly after our first meeting, he started "dating" (and I use that term very loosely) Wendy. He was the worst boyfriend at the beginning and for some reason he and I did not get along. Slowly, through the years, Andy and I did develop a strong friendship. He and Wendy introduced Carl and I. As Andy and Wendy turned into a normal couple, Carl and I turned into a serious couple. Andy and Carl went from being fraternity brothers to being roommates and Andy and I strengthened our relationship as well. In my memory, when I think of college, it is always the four of us. My best memories generally include the four of us together. Fraternity parties, theta chi in general, video games, drinking, the football game from hell, and even trips for fast food. I even look back now and smile at how he used to have Carl pick Wen and I both up for date parties, even when we lived across the street from the house. I guess back then I always thought it would be Wendy and Andy, just like its always been Carl and I. I just need to sometimes remember those times when it was just Andy, like the weekend before he went to Vegas with Josh and we drank extensively...and Carl told Andy we had no blankets or the times when Andy and I met up in Allentown when I was in on business. Those memories make me smile too! I guess I'm ready to close the book college, and start to focus on making new memories.

I am thrilled that Pam and Andy are so happy. It has been Pam in my memories of more recent moments like the night we moved into the new house, the hospital baby shower, and the baptism weekend. I am so happy to have been included in their special day!