the unexpected~

As you know, yesterday my daughter and I were heading out on a road trip to find her a wedding dress.  Before our little road trip there has been some disappointment as far a dress goes.  She had ordered one online a few weeks back... and it didn't work out.

Now I was very hesitant about her doing this; ordering online ... but... it's her wedding... she found "the dress" and there really wasn't any stopping her.  The company where she had ordered the dress from was fast.  She received her dress only 3 days after ordering it.  It was as pretty as she was hoping for ~ only way too small ... and in my opinion ... not her style at all.  Needless to say, the dress needed to be returned ~ and our bride to be went into a very sad mode.  Then to top it off ... the gal that she's been trying to book for her music hasn't returned any of her phone calls and messages and that's not looking to be a good sign either.

Sara and I had taken several trips already out of town to find wedding apparel ~ to no avail.   The bridesmaid dress was found, the flowers for decoration have been found, the guest book, the mother of the bride dress and shoes but still no wedding gown.

Sara works at the bank during the week so it's been hard for her to get away ... and her day's off seem to fly by way to fast.  None the less... we said 2 weeks ago... no matter what... next days off... we're out of here and we won't stop until we find THE DRESS.

Well... that day was yesterday.

We decided to head down to the town of Wausau, a two and half hour drive south of us.  You see.... that's another MAJOR problem of our location ... we literally live in the sticks... and you have to drive several hours in any direction before you can do any kind of shopping.  It's a 45 minute drive for us just to go to Walmart ~ let alone find a decent bridal gallery or any store that sells formal wear.

We got a late start yesterday.  It was around 9:00 a.m. when we left the house.  So... all things go good we'll be in Wausau by 11:30.

Only 20 minutes into our trip we get behind a semi trailer that we have to follow for several miles before passing.  Sara is frustrated.  Then we get behind this guy that is driving 25 mph in a 55 mph zone and end up following him for several miles.  Sara says, "if this is going to be any indicator of how my day is going to be; I'm turning around right now" and believe me ... my little bridezilla meant it.  It was scary... I was thinking to myself ... hmmm... maybe we should turn around ... Sara really didn't seem "into" this trip and I had such a feeling it was going to be a lonnnnnnnnnnnnnng long day. 

An hour into the drive ... before the turn off to go to Wausau is a turn that goes to the town of Rhinelander.  I suggested to my little bridezilla daughter that maybe we should take a drive into Rhinelander first before heading any further south.  Let's get mom a coffee ~ 'cuz she was really needing one ... lol.

As we pull into town ... there on the left hand side of the road is a sign saying Lund and Taylor Bridal Gallerie in front of this old victorian style shop.  Let's stop! Take a quick look ~~~ you never know.  Sara agrees.

That gal in the shop asks Sara what her style is that she's looking for.  Sara tells her and off she goes grabbing these dresses off the rack.  ALL of them are nothing like Sara said.... Sara mentions it to her.  The gal says, "oh that's okay... I've been doing this for years, I know your style.  Just humor me and your Mom here and try this on."  OH MY GOSH ... I'm thinking  ... lady... you don't know my daughter and you just opened up yourself a can of whoop ass.

Well... the very first dress she put on ... was it!!!  She came out of that dressing room, beaming the biggest smile I think I've ever seen on her face.  It was priceless!!  She found THE DRESS.

She tried on about 10 more ~ just to be sure ~  but kept going back to dress number 1 ... my baby found her dress!! AND it was only 11:00 in the morning ... we didn't have to drive all the way to Wausau ... she also got her veil there, and jewelry and a little jacket ... wow... a trip down the street and she had her shoes and a new bra and it wasn't even noon.  This momma is now smiling!!

I hate shopping ... but yesterday was actually one of the best shopping days I've ever had.

Until next time...
So it goes in my neck of the woods.
~mel