Guest Wedding Problems.

The gift bag ripped getting on the train. Shit.

I had ridden the 60 bus with my large Adias as I worked my way down to Geneva for one of my best friend's wedding. I had figured out the Monday before that I had a few problems I needed to work out. Although I live in Chicago, with the wedding in St. Charles and with me wanting to party a bit, these were my issues.

1) I had no place to stay (which is necessary for partying factors)

2) I had stupidly rented out my car just 2 days before on RelayRides for that weekend, which then created the most involved problem,

3) I had no way to get there.

I knew I could figure it out so after an hour (or two) of contacting people in my network and seeing if I could hitch rides or stay with people. I thought I had figured it out by riding the train and taking a suburban bus. So, I didn't worry about it anymore.

Until today.

I got on the 10:37 train after leaving my house at exactly 9:45 and taking a tardy bus into the train station. For once, I had planned ahead and waited patiently for the bus to arrive at the station. After spending an hour or so doing research for an article on the train to be published on Gaper's Block in the Arts and Culture section, I arrived at the Geneva Train Station with plenty of time. What I thought was going to be an easy bus ride, turned into me double checking on Google Maps and seeing where I misinterpreted it.

The bus didn't go as far as I needed it to. It went only as far as a mile before I needed to drive 4 miles to where the church was. Drive? Oh boy. Besides that, due to grabbing my heavy gift by the handles of the giftbag, my adorable wedding present container was now ugly and unusuable.

One problem at a time.

Having visited the Perk Up Coffee Shop before, I entered with a few missions. First step, present vessel. I walked in, ordered a Spiced Cider and asked another question.

"Do you know where I could buy a gift bag for this present? I'm going to a wedding and I don't have anything else to put it in. It ripped when I was on the train."

The friendly gentleman helped me by looking around the store and finding 2 brown handled bags saying "They aren't very strong, but maybe if you double them up, it'll be fine." I thanked him profusely and then worked on my next mission, charging my dead phone.

I had used it for music and a Hotspot for my article research and it putted out really quickly. Plug in phone. Done. Next job, present.

After transferring each carefully wrapped package from Crate and Barrel into its new container and writing "Pick me up by the bottom!" with a smiley face, I was able to take a breather. Now, I could finally write the card. Thinking for a few about what to say in the Target-bought card, I wrote quickly and sealed the envelope. Phew! At least that's out of the way.

Next, figuring out how I get there. Calling my friend for a ride, she seemed uncertain if she could pick me up, so I moved onto the next option. The locals. Obnoxiously asking the guys at the counter once again, I asked if there was another way to get to the church. He suggested a cab service and pointed to the bulletin board where a few numbers were written. I called one, no answer. Second one could come get me in an hour. Perfect.

I mentioned to the coffee guys that I would just hang out here until the cab got here.

"Too bad we're closing as soon as this In-Bound Train comes."

Awww..... really? So grabbing my heavy bag with my heavy gift resting on top of it, and still talking to the cab driver...I walked out of the coffee shop and set myself down on the bench outside of Caboose's Bar & Grill. The cab driver finished his conversation and mentioned how they know him at the bar. So, I finished up the conversation, walked back down (without my stuff) to Perk Up, said "Thank you" once again to the gentlemen closing up shop, and then picked up my stuff off of the bench. I walked into the bar, ready to wait.

Now, almost finished with my glass of Pinot Grigio ("a heavy pour" as the bartender said when I asked her how much the glass of wine was), I'm ready to embark on my next mission, getting ready for a wedding in a bar bathroom.

Here I go.

Congratulations Kirsten and John on your wedding. I pray for only issues to happen with me today as you embark on your journey together as husband and wife. I'd take all of the wedding problems in place of you having to endure any of them.

So, let's go get on that hot dress and heels and transform myself into wedding-presentable status. Hope your Saturday is as stupendous as mine.

#firstworldproblems #party #experiencing #college #getaway #traveling #takelifeasitcomes #simplyexperiencing