This Canadian Life: For a ghoul time head to the mid-west.

Can you believe it is November?! Unreal! That ol' father time snuck up on us again.

October ended on a wonderful note I must say. Paul and I headed back to Indiana for one of his very good friend's wedding which happened to be Halloween weekend. We left here about 5am on Thursday morning after I had worked late the night before. It was pitch dark and raining as it always seems to whenever we have a long road trip this year. KIT our GPS was set to Mama Butler's House (literally a destination set in our GPS). The directions seemed familiar like I said it was really dark. All of the sudden we found ourselves on this extremely dark road that even with high beams on you couldn't tell if that was a hill our a gully in front of you. We kept nervously joking about some dude with a chainsaw being around one of the dark, sharp turns. It was obvious we were in the mountains but had no idea where and it wasn't on a interstate.

I asked Paul my awesome co-pilot to make sure that KIT was not set to something silly like avoid highways or something like that. Sure enough it was set to avoid highways, toll roads and the like. So it was taking us all the back roads. Paul quickly corrected that and it took us another half hour to find the way back to the interstate. So we lost an hour with our little detour in the rain. Which when you drive in the dark as it is, feels like you aren't getting anywhere.

It was a beautiful drive once the darkness lifted, the leaves on the trees were stunning. Nature in all her glory. I am not sure how long we had been on the road at this point at least about 6 hours so we were about half way there when we stopped for gas and found a pottery place. Of course I had to stop and check it out! As much as we wanted to get there I needed a break from the road to wake up. Driving through the mountains is awesome and scary all at the same time. Maybe not quite as bad as driving to Jasper Alberta where you look ever the side of the mountain and see serious drops, but trying to get our little car up a mountain while passing a semi in the rain not my idea of fun.

Once we turned the corner and saw Ball State University we both took a sigh of relief. Just a few more minutes and we were in Mama B's driveway. She came running out to the drive way to meet us. It felt good to be back to what was familiar. Even though I have never lived in Munice, it still feels like "home" since that is where my other family lives.

Our costumes 10/29/11

Friday we spent the day with Mama B. shopping, doing lunch and hitting up the Starbucks drive through which is a tradition Mama B. and I seem to have when ever I am in Muncie. Saturday was Fred and Abby's big day. They were getting married at this beautiful State park about 30 minutes from Muncie. We met them there to help set up and do whatever we could to make their day stress free. Such a perfect spot for a fall wedding. Afterwards Paul and I went to get dressed in our Halloween costumes before the ceremony. Paul was dressed as Jamie from Myth Busters and me. Well I was suppose to be dressed as my version of Mia from Pulp Fiction. She was the character that overdosed on the dance floor while dancing with John Travolta's character. I even had a syringe in my chest, but it kept falling out and I was just plain uncomfortable in my outfit so I ended up going to the car before the ceremony and stripped down and wore my big sunglasses so no one would notice the makeup I had on.

Near The Mound: Mound State Park Indiana

The ceremony took place at this Mound which I am sorry I am not totally familiar with the history of it but it is considered a very sacred place. Paul and his other very good friend Blake had done some excavating there I do believe while they went to Ball State. To get to the mound you had to hike along a path, and the sun was starting to set. It was absolutely magical. At one point in the ceremony as Fred and Abby were saying their vows, the sun moved so that it was directly on them and Abby's dress sparkled and twinkled like nothing I have ever seen before. With the colours of the leaves framing them in the back ground of the Mound. The energy and love that surrounded them was palpable. Afterwards we all walked back to Pavilion where the reception was. There were lots of laughs and stories going back and forth as friends gathered who hadn't seen each other in a while.

Paul, Fred and Blake have such a special connection and it was great to see the three of them together again, with the rest of their Muncie crew. For a few hours there was no worries, no cares. Just celebrating of love, friendships and two families being brought together.

Paul, Blake and Fred

Me, Paul, Kate, Blake, Fred and Abby

Maya, Maran and their Uncle Paul goofing around.

On Sunday we spent the morning visiting with Paul's grandparents and one of his aunts. From there Mama B. had a little family get together and we got the visit with the nieces and nephews for a bit. Then it was showtime. Blake formed a 80's heavy metal band for one night called Overcome By Fumes. Personally I love 80's metal and so does Paul; so we made sure to be there as Blake made his debut performance. It was a great time and a perfect ending to an awesome weekend.

Monday morning came to fast. It was time to say our "Good Byes for now". I hate saying good byes, so I don't do them. I opt for the "We will see you soon!" which we will. Paul and I got up early with his Mom while she watched the early morning news drinking her coffee before work. Loaded up the car, and right on schedule the rain started. As we pulled away it was bittersweet, probably more so than usual. Living so far from friends and family can really suck, and this was one of those times. Paul and I spent the drive back east chatting and laughing about what a fantastic/whirlwind weekend it was. We are both so glad we were able to make it to the wedding and see everyone we got to see and catch up. It was the first time I think I have felt like I really had family here. Don't get me wrong Paul's family and friends have always welcomed me into their lives, but this was the first time I really FELT like I belonged.

Who knows what the future holds or what is waiting around the next corner for any of us. But one thing we do know we are not in this alone as long as we got each other; and our sense of humour.