for Nicki...ahhh, the memories.

My friend Nicki Glenn asked me to tell her what happened on my honeymoon...most of you may already know...so you don't have to read this unless you just want to laugh at me again.

We got married on July 10, 1999. After the wedding, which was a well-orchestrated circus, we headed for Memphis. The next morning (notice the lack of details about day 1), we drove to...I hate to even say it...Eureka Springs, Arkansas. We spent most of the day on 2 lane highways weaving through rural Arkansas. We actually spent most of that time behind a maroon Dodge that was apparently on a Sunday drive. We finally made it to ES and checked in at our beautiful cabin on a lake in the mountains. It really was pretty. But the first thing I noticed was that the bathroom area had no doors at all. None. You walked into the bathroom (no door in the entrance) and there was a huge tub, adjacent shower, and toilet, all right there. It was pretty, and well decorated, but I really like to go by myself, thanks.

Anyway, Michael, my sweet husband of about 28 hours at that point, decided to run a bubble bath for us in the jacuzzi tub. He didn't read the instructions on the bubble liquid and poured probably a cup of the stuff in the running water. Bubbles were POURING out of the tub. But it was sweet, so we got in. He lit candles everywhere and we were being so sweet and newlywedish. After a few minutes, Michael said, "do you smell something? I smell something burning!" My hair had fallen in a candle (it was very long then) and was on fire. I started to panic and he yelled, "Get under the water!" The tub had about 18 inches of bubbles, and about 4 inches of water, so he pushed me under all those bubbles into the little bit of water on the bottom. My legs were up in the air, I was covered with burned hair, sooty stuff and bubbles. I came up sputtering and probably crying.

The next day we saw the sights (all 3 of them, ha!) and went to the Passion Play, which we didn't love. We chose a restaurant for supper and when we got there it said, "closed on Monday". Every day that week, the place we chose to eat was closed on that particular day. It was like a practical joke! We ate at these family restaurants with all these screaming kids on vacation.

On Wednesday, I got in the shower, which only had 2 walls and a door, it backed up to the tub. Right as I started washing my hair, the owners of the cabins started construction down the mountain on some new cabins. They turned the water off. The water I was rinsing my hair with came out muddy. I climbed over into the tub, turned on the faucet and there was more mud. I started to cry. Then started to bawl. Michael came in the bathroom, put a towel over me, and let me cry. There were other things too...the cabin didn't have individual phone lines, just a party line, so that was weird. People asked us everywhere we went, "so why did you come here on your honeymoon?" I got carsick EVERY time we went anywhere, but held it together for most of the trip, until the last night. We were all dressed up, going to a fancy place that was actually open, and right before we got to the restaurant, I got sick all over the gas station parking lot. What a romantic evening that was!

We were supposed to stay 2 more days, but we left early Thursday morning and came home.

I look back on this week...this half nightmare/half wonderful experience, and it always cracks me up, but it makes me so thankful that Michael was the one I shared it with. He can laugh at it now and has never seen it as a failure, or a waste. He just chalked it up to just one of those rotten experiences. He has always said that if we survived that week, we can do anything! He has promised to make it up to me next year on our 10 year anniversary. We hope to move to Madison then, so we'll see. I may get a house instead of a trip...and that's okay.

So there you go, Nicki. That's what happened. I hope to post again in a year and tell y'all about our lovely anniversary trip to...??

Now I have dishes to wash and towels to fold...I almost would rather be sitting in a hot tub with my hair on fire.