Our American Friends

Our American friends, as they call themselves, threw us an old fashioned American BBQ a few weekends as a little going away party. Their hope, as they explained it, was to show us how great America truly was so we wouldn’t stay away to long.  I dare say they were successful, they’re certainly not making it easy to leave.

Perhaps the best 4th of July party I’ve ever been to and it was in May.

Smoked tri-tip, potato salad, watermelon, green salad, smores, root beer and apple pie. All of America’s classics.

Life long friends are not easy to come by. Couples where husband and husband get along and enjoy each other as well as wife and wife is a unique and lucky find. But then to find a group where multiple husbands and multiple wives all enjoy each other, all have similar interests and common ground, and that which is not is embraced and/or made fun of in jest is a miracle or at the very least a blessing of sorts. I am confident there are good people and friends to made made no matter where you go in the world, but this, this group, this dynamic is going to be near impossible to replicate.

They even had a photo booth. Take your pick: Davy Crockett, Lady Liberty, a pilgrim, a cowboy… Apparently dressing up never gets old if you’re a girl, there’s about 20 more of those.

The boys opted out of American hats of all trade.

And just when we thought the night couldn’t get any better, they handed us a list of comments/memories of the Hunts and had us read them out loud.

I will never forget all the laughs Katelyn has provided me with. Truly an awesome couple!*I always had to explain who Wade is by, “You know, the guy in THE shorts!*I will miss the Hunts at our game nights*I will miss seeing Katelyn walking her babies and her huge brown lab pass my house on her way to the park.*I will miss Katelyn’s laugh!*I will miss getting yelled at, “Hey Ladies!!” from an ‘unknown’ biker on an early morning run*I will miss Katelyn’s amazing vocabulary, having our kids in every swim class together and sharing a myriad of wardrobe items.*Lot’s of good memories with the Hunts, most of them involve jokes to inappropriate to share. I guess my biggest disappointment with Wade leaving is that I might take over the “hairiest man at the beach” tag. Wade, before you leave, please give me your man scaping clippers.*I’m sure glad Katelyn decided not to move before the Ragnar because it’s a good chance I’d be 6 feet under right now. I’m so grateful for her staying by my side for 3 miserable miles and forcing me to drink a sip or 2 of Gatorade and gag down a shot block. Because of her I now understand that “enduring to the end” is only feasable with good, supportive friends*I will miss freezing my butt off with Wade at early morning swim class with Byron, now who will I sit with at graduation?*Wade has made me laugh from the first times I hung out with him, from showing up to my birthday party in the Union Jack ‘underwear’, to his frequent references to ‘sexy time’, to his nicknames for people (ex Big Country). I will miss his blue seersucker suit and white bucks on Sunday, but wish him the in a Hijab in Saudi Arabia*You both make me laugh so much! My kids all say that Wade is the funniest guy in the ward with D. Dowling a close second.*Katelyn I have loved your silly sense of humor and competitiveness during Ragnar. And enjoyed working in YW’s with you, you are one of my favorites!*Wade is the last stylish dude in Sunday dress. I will miss the white shoes with no socks, the See’s Candy suits etc. And so I need to mention those amazing running shorts? Plus, he was an awesome home teacher.*I remember Alex’s birthday party where Wade wore his sexy shorts and crop top all night. All I could think was, “Have you no shame?!”*I will miss Katelyn’s calming influence on me. She’s cool as a cucumber no matter what situation she’s in.*If Katelyn is gone, then who will share my love of all British things and split and future Cath Kidston orders with me?*I’m going to miss hearing about all the “a**” Wade grabbed as a highschool cheerleader.*I will miss Katelyn’s quiet confidence and swapping funny stories about our fancy girls.*I always love cracking up with Katelyn. Even though I did not get to hang out with her that often, when I knew Katelyn was going to be at an event that I would be at also, it made me look forward to going (even if it was a race I was dreading!) I always know I can count on her to make me laugh and that she will always laugh at my stupid jokes about anything from kids, to race diarrhea, to being the only non-Mormon in the group. I will always remember her Gretel braids that we all imitated on this last Ragnar, our multiple Costco run-ins and mostly how welcoming, kind conforting and hilarious she is. You will all be so missed!*I will miss when Wade talks shop with Doug and Brad over dinner.*I will miss Katelyn’s smile, always so optimistic and happy.*If the Hunts are gone, then who will trek up Thousand Steps beach with us (including Katelyn 8 months prego with Tessa!)*You never really know a person until you’ve spent 30+hours in a stinky van with them! Then, when you witness their will to survive after a mountain lion, bear and shark attack, the understanding of who they really are becomes evident. Katelyn, you are a warrior and I would go to battle with you any day!*Wade, if it weren’t for you my husband might not be soooo chauvinistic, BUT at the same time, you made the hallways at church a fun place to hang out. We had many laughs when nursery wasn’t an option for the littles.*It’s a good thing Wade was such a good Sunday school teacher (Bueller, Bueller, anyone?) otherwise my lasting memory of him would be in Union Jack shorts! And thanks Wade, for checking in on all those ward patients who made it to Mission Hospital! Very handy!*My favorite memory of Katelyn is from the mother/daughter RS night we had a couple of years ago. She told the story of hiking all 6 peaks in the Grand Tetons with her dad every year as a teenager. It was very inspiring and I knew then she was going to take on the world and do amazing things. I just didn’t think she would be going half way across the globe to do it!*My favorite Wade moment was after his last Ragner leg that finished in the heat of the day in San Diego when, stripped down to only his Union Jack short shorts and a heart monitor (stretched across his hairy chest) and glistening with sweat, he took an impromptu shower with our limited water supply. He then struck a pose that will be etched in my mind forever more…which he then felt compelled to follo up with a moon shot…classic.*I will always remember when I realized Katelyn was a legit athlete. I was in a training ride on Pacific Island Drive when I spotted a lone runner, sprinting up the bike lane. It took me awhile, but when I finally passed her, I causally glanced back and realized it was Katelyn. And if memory serves, didn’t Katelyn beat Wade in the Scout 10K?*I will miss Katelyn running backward uphill and still passing me like I was standing still.*I will miss asking Wade permmision for Katelyn to come to a girls night out.*One classic comment I will never forget is right after we finished the SB Wine Country Half Marathon and Katelyn was on her cell with Wade. He says to her, “So who won out of you and Tarah?” Katelyn responds, “Tarah won” then Wade spits back not with a congratulations but instead with, “Well babe, let’s not let that happen again.” I was dying!! Wade is a crack up. I don’t know you super well, but I sure hope and pray you move back here soon so we can raise our families together.*Reasons I love Katelyn: she is determined, yet laid back, very thoughtful, generous, witty, honest, joyful and loyal. She is a friend I can always count on.*I will miss trying to keep up with Katelyn when we run, “Come on T, we are not walking this hill!” she has said this to me on most of the runs over the years.*I will miss seeing Wade in his British Flag dolphin shorts, his classic and unparalleled sense of humor, and I will miss him having my back on the “UNACCEPTABLE” behavior of my wife!"*I will miss Wade being available to catch chick flick for a man date.*If the Hunts are gone, who will keep me engaged in Sunday School?”

There seems to be a pattern regarding those blasted Union Jack running shorts!

I told Wade the other day that the previous two times we have moved, I was ready to go. I was ready to move on to a new place, a new experience, new relationships. I was grateful for the time and experience we’d had in SLC or St. Louis but I wasn’t sad to go. I am sad to leave Laguna Niguel. These are my people. This is where our life is.  This is going to be easier said than done.