The Best Parts of Santa Fe

• Traveling alone.

• Driving a rental car through the desert with mountains in the far off distance.
• Lizards everywhere.

• Stumbling on the Santa Fe Baking Co. for lunch upon arrival, texting Kristina to let her know that I'm just going to hang out and knit there for awhile and receiving her return reply that her knitting group meets there every week (who knew?).

• Meeting Kristina in person for the very first time (though we've known each other for years). There was nothing awkward or "new" about any of it and didn't seem at all weird to us.
• Being put to work potting flowers for the backyard farm wedding and having dirt under my fingernails within hours of arriving in New Mexico.

• Cocktail party at Aliento Bed & Breakfast, where I stayed with the rest of Kristina and Zach's incredible friends and family.

• Meeting up with my old college friend Christina who also lives in town. Going out for a stroll at the Farmer's Market, lunch at the Flying Star Cafe, and walking around the plaza markets with her. So fun catching up again.
• Meeting Christina's husband Taylor and sweet son Clayton. She has a beautiful family, home and life.
• Kristina and Zach's beautiful wedding. Everything was perfect, right down to the buttercream frosting on the homemade cupcakes to go with the homemade ice cream (four flavors). These two could not be more in love or more perfect for each other. The air surrounding their farm was filled with the blessings and love of all they hold dear, and it was perfect.
• Being made an honorary member of Kristina's Wednesday night knitting group and hanging out with the knitting girls at the wedding. Knitters always have something to talk about.
• Laughing, dancing and laughing some more with Britt, Carrie and Michael at the wedding. SO.FUN.

• Witnessing new-to-me Danish wedding traditions including toasts and songs from Kristina's family. The communal joy at the reception was deep.

• Bente, Kristina's mom. You could never tell she was 80 years old after partying with this woman. She was amazing. (She stole the cowboy hat from the groom.)
• Cowboy hats, boots, belt buckles and the whole shebang. This city girl loved being at a wedding where this type of attire was actually appropriate!

• Stars in the New Mexico sky. Magic under the apple tree.
• Being an official witness to the wedding on paper. (THAT was cool.)

• The on-the-fly playlist made on 4 different iPods as the group (mainly Michael) pulled together a dance party at the farm on a rented dance floor under the stars. ABBA, MJ, Etta James, Rolling Stones, George Clinton, Prince...
• Being surrounded by intoxicating friendships - old and new - all weekend.

• The huge running leap of a hug that I got from Jackson at the airport, with his smiley, toddling sister following close behind. I couldn't wait to get out of here when I left on Friday morning and I couldn't wait to get back home to them today. It was all perfect.