We actually met at a wedding. That never happens. Only, it did. Two weeks later, the Bong was transferred to Portland. 5 months later, I packed up a U-Haul and we did the Oregon Trail. Then the Bong lost his job. R.I.P. Vidoop. Along with losing his job, he also lost his work visa making him an illegal immigrant. Solution: Marriage, of course. I couldn’t have masterminded this situation but it was so brilliant. We thought about having a quickie ceremony at the courthouse but that was shot down by the lawyer who said we had to make it look real. As if our love doesn’t look real enough?! jeesh. So we planned a legit wedding in four weeks and probably shaved off a few years of my poor mother’s life. As if giving birth to me wasn’t enough.

Of course we had to have a theme. Mine: “Putting the WED into Wednesday!” The Bongs: “She’s not knocked up, I just need a green card.” Both fully appropriate as I was not at the time, nor am I now, preggers. And we got married on a Wednesday. You try planning a Saturday wedding in 4 weeks in June and then you can judge us.

So on June 10th our outdoor wedding was rained out. Did that stop us? No. 100ish people crammed into a space made for 60ish. It was perfect.

My Highlights:
-I had a dress, a white one thanks to last minute geniuses at Ania Bridal in Portland. And the fairy seamstress even sewed in boobies for me!
-A lot of my dearest friends and family in the same place at once.
-My friend Devon flew home early from Egypt with her two kids, threw me a bridal shower AND bought me a KITCHENAID mixer. That’s right. A. KitchenAid. Mixer. That beauty is reason enough to get married. Among many other things, D made our quickie wedding so incredibly special.
-Maria threw me a panty party. With Sangria. Oh my.
-Cabey left camp, drove through a mountain and flew across the plains all while being sick and exhausted. I simply couldn’t have gotten married without her there.
-Elise flew in for less than 24 hours leaving behind her mentally ill patients in Georgia just to be there. I just really want to be her when I grow up.
-I couldn’t have gotten married without the May fam. Seriously. Daniel officiated, Bonnie sang, Henry played the cello, Ethan, the violin, Elliott videotaped and sweet Rosie was a bridesmaid. Wow. They are amazing.
-Koes waiting at the end of the aisle for me. That was a moment.
-There are about one million other things that made our quickie wedding unbelievable, but the internet simply could not hold all of that information.

The Bong’s Highlights:
-He got to marry me. Greencards don’t come cheap these days.

There was only piece missing in the perfect thrown together dream wedding. The Bong’s family couldn’t make it in time from Indonesia. They were very missed and I am counting down the days till I get to meet the family who raised this incredible man.

(I’m fully aware that he will threaten to move me to Asia after reading this all while quoting this post but it had to be said.  Sigh.)

*Obscure and Random places that I have lived:

Post college- I shared a house with two girlfriends.  It was a two bedroom place that claimed to be a three bedroom due to a sunroom.  I moved my bed into that sunroom and and became a BEDroom. Because that’s all that would fit.

2000ish- I moved to Slovakia and shared a third room attic with a 13 year old and a cat whose name eludes me.  Definitely one of the best roomies ever.  But still, kinda random. Later I moved in with my sweet Mama Nela into her one bedroom apartment in a commie condo.  She spoke a little English, I spoke no Slovak except for the curse words that high school boys taught me.  By far, one of the best experiences of my life. XOXO Hannah and Mama Nela

I had a brief stint in a normal housing situation living in an apartment.  Nice. Then mid 2000’s, I signed a deal with the devil and moved into my own personal hell.  I became a live-in nanny. And I lived in their garage.  And there were rodents and bugs. And it was awful. And then I was adopted by a nice family.

2006- After living in the shack for a year, I won a game of MASH and moved up to the Mansion.  The nice family was much more than nice.  I lived with them for two years and thought of staying with them forever.

2008- My sister and I united forces and moved in together. I actually had to pay rent. Ew. BUT got to live with J and we both got hit on by a mullet man who obviously had great taste. No, Ronnie, neither my sister nor I want to date you.  Especially not at the same time. Double Ew.

Which brings me to Portland.  Where the Bong and I are playing house (well, studio to be exact) and where my heart has found its home. Forever.

Home is where the heart is.  Yes, indeed.