My best friend Lauren is getting married next weekend and I’m the maid of honor.  The bridesmaid dress is a strappy number, so I’ve started running in tank tops in an effort to even out my Africa t-shirt tan.  I’m considering this an early wedding gift not only to Lauren and Simon, but to everyone at the wedding who might have had to look directly at my pasty shoulders.  And I know what you’re thinking, but Julie, is this really much of a sacrifice for you…can you really consider this a gift?  Yeah, it is…and yeah, I can.  Let me tell you these two facts about myself:  

1.  I’m a huge face sweater.  
2.  I use Proactive.  

Combine those two elements with no sleeves to wipe my face on and by mile one my eyes are stinging and by the end of my run, I’m about 90% blind.  It’s been painful, but I think it’ll be worth it.  

Really though, all guests of Lauren’s wedding, no need to send me thank you notes or commend me on my selflessness.  Please, honestly, no.  I embarrass easily.  You guys, seriously, don’t plan any speeches or plan on lifting my up in a chair or anything, ok?  Hero?  Come on, I’m not sure if that’s appropriate.  I mean, ok, yeah, it is, but let’s try and keep this day to being about Lauren and Simon, not what an amazingly generous friend I am.