Anyone that knows me knows that this is my favorite story to tell. In January of 2022, some dear friends of mine were getting married in Virginia and although I had never travelled alone before, I hopped on a plane, drove an hour to Front Royal and spent my first evening there sitting in a movie theater, something I hoped would make me feel less alone... and how.

Just before the film ended I saw a message from a familiar name. "You're in Virginia??" It said. My face lit up in the nearly empty theater. "Yes!! Are you coming to the wedding??" I asked, and in true Emile fashion he said "No, I'm going sightseeing on this very specific weekend. YES IM COMING--" Some things never change.

He explained that he was stranded an hour away in the airport terminal after a delayed flight and a denied car rental. I was in the middle of telling him to stay right there and that I was on my way... when my phone died. No maps, no sense of direction, no contact. I Couldn't find my hotel, was terrified to stop and ask for help until I eventually caved after crossing the Shenandoah River 7 times (side-note: hard to find maps in gas stations these days) Eventually my phone did come back to life and I told Emile to stay put (as if he had any better options). I made my way back to the same airport I had flown into hours before and was delighted to see my old friend. Imagine-- a wedding weekend, two old school friends from a small town reunite, only one person has a rental car so the two are stuck together for the duration of the trip. This had all the makings of a meet-cute Hallmark moment... if only Emile hadn't been in a relationship with someone back home. talk about a record-scratch. You'll be surprised to know I did not leave him stranded on the highway 10 minutes into our journey when I found out. I figured it was a sign. This was nothing more than a happy, spontaneous reunion (it's hard to avoid each other when only one of you has a car); we had lunch, visited some antique stores, went to the wedding, drank a few drinks and said goodbye.

A freak snow storm had rolled in (the worst January snow storm that area had seen in 50 years. Mazel Tov.) and Emile left that same night. I myself was stranded another day with flight delays, dug my car out of a snow bank for the first time in my life, and was struck by a rogue vehicle on an icy highway. This trip had certainly been full of surprises. For a moment, I thought I saw a spark, and even if that's all it was, I was happy... Something about weddings, I guess.

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The Caldwell House

The Ducote-Williams House

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