Wow this is a really late post but I can't leave it out. The wedding in California was great and my sister looked like a princess! Being the maid of honor I had the privilege of giving a speech. I told about how much I love and miss her and all of that, but I also told this story about how happy and fun she is: I woke up at my Mom's one Christmas morning (about 6AM) to someone jumping on my bed, yelling "Wake up! It's Christmas! Santa came! Wake up! Wake up!" It was Alicia and she was too excited to wait for the sun to come up. That was cute of course but the fun part of this story is that this happened only 6 years ago, AND she drove across town to wake us up because she couldn't sleep any longer! Love you sister. :)
My sister. (Great photo Ali)!
Mr. and Mrs. Lee Bashforth!
Bridal party: Kayla, Quinn, Ali, Samira, Kath, plus Hanna (not in photo). Samira and I were whispering Tommy Boy lines to each other. Shhh don't tell Alicia :)
Sarah, Aunt Dodie, Carlee and Raidon, Brandon, Jay-me, Ryan
Uncle Emil and Aunt Pattie
Mother of the Bride
What a good looking family!
Carlee and the boys :)
Hotties! Shereen, Megan, K, Ali, and Samira
Uncle Adel (Grandpa's brother), Aunt Samia, Aunt Mona, Aunt Brenda
Baby Got Back!
Adorable family. Not only do I have a new brother in law but now I have a niece and another nephew! (photo by Ali Rizk: visit rizkali.blogspot.com to see more great photos)!
Daddy daughter dance (photo by Ali)
The whole family! (16 of us now)
I love my cousins!
Sporting the tie-dye with Ryan and Ty
Me and B
Playing at the beach
Mommy and Ty looking for the perfect wave...
One of the few times I have had all my siblings together.
All my favorite people in one picture. What can be better?!?!
I LOVE you guys!
And home.
Just a few travel comments before I finish the blog...
Thanks for following along! It means a lot that so many of you kept up with it.
Some common questions I have been asked...
Favorite country: So hard! Honestly I loved something about every place I went.
Country I would most like to visit again: Nepal (to get out and explore the mountain villages)
Best food: Thailand (and Aunt Mona's house)
Best beach: Maui
Most expensive: Rome
Cheapest: India
Country I would most highly recommend visiting: Thailand
Scariest place to use the toilet: :) India
Lessons learned:
- Be grateful for those dirty interstate gas station bathrooms. I used a few in India that would give them nightmares.
- Bathing with a bucket is not so bad.
- Figuring out the public transportation in a new city can make me feel like superwoman.
- Smiling is a universal language.
- I have an addiction to cheap street food. But really, considering deals and food are two of my favorite things how can I not develop unhealthy habits?
- I can sleep anywhere when tired enough.
- People have a tendency to enter our lives at just the right moment.
- Personal space is not important to all cultures. Neither is deodorant. (Bad combination).
- It is possible to fit an entire family of 5 on a small motorcycle.
- God loves me and watches out for my well being.
It has been hard coming home to real life but since I chose at the beginning of my trip I would love every place I visited I am determined to carry over that attitude to life at home. At least I have a great house with awesome friends and family to come back to. Besides, I have also learned that I don't have to be in exotic places to have grand adventures. Recently I was riding my road bike home from work and took a "shortcut" which turned out to be an off-roading excursion. Thankfully the adventure didn't continue with poison ivy showing up a couple days later!
Due to the overwhelming temptation of quitting my job to hit the road and open my own motorcycle pancake cart I have sold my motorcycle. (Ok well that and a few other reasons). The good news is that kayaking in Rome and Hawaii convinced me to buy one of my own. The better news for you all is I like to share and can easily be convinced to go to the lake pretty much any day of the week.
And home.
