Charlottesville, Virginia
I journeyed to C-Ville for the first wedding of a close friend my age, which was eerie in and of itself as I still consider myself far too young for most things, let alone sealing my life to another person’s in holy matrimony. However, she and her now-husband had a gorgeous wedding and reception in Charlottesville and surrounding wine country, which brought me and the bride full circle.
We met, aged 15-16, at writer’s camp at UVa many summers ago. Since our angsty days in that hot summer sun, UVa had (rightfully) torn down our dilapidated dorm and replaced it with a brand new lab of some kind, but other than that had not changed much. The Lawn, where seniors (I hate when they say “fourth years”) get to live if they survive the limited lottery, is verdant and lush as always, and the architecture beautifully simple and functional.
The drive was killer, about 7 to 8 hours each way dependent on traffic, but was picturesque nonetheless once you got off the NJ Turnpike. I got to see my junior year roommate, newly transplanted there, and several friends from college. It was strange to see us all behaving well, dressed up like real adults and watching our friends get married. Of course we all have responsibilities and are each mature in our own right, but seeing a wedding of a friend your age certainly makes reflection of the weekend fairly more serious than just a good time with friends. Several people’s lives just changed in a huge way, and we witnessed it. And all in the utterly breathtaking view of the Virginia country and sunset, which just makes me feel comfortable and satisfied by its beauty.
