Specifically, this is dedicated to Jon & Mallory, Cherish & Collin, Erica & Zack, Courtney & Ben, Corey & Darrell and Kayla & Megan. Ya’ll made me see it.

Mom & Dad, I finally get it.

As a millennial, I’m used to seeing engagement posts, baby pictures, wedding this, wedding that. Anyone on Facebook is no stranger to this common thread; people are happy and they want the world to know about their happiness. A year ago, I scoffed past these posts in a overwhelmed distain of the “normal American dream”. Grow up, go to school, get a job, get married, have babies, and die. That’s what I saw and I wanted no part of it. An apology to you all is in order because my heart has been forever changed.

Courtney & Ben:

I think Ben came to our family tradition of Christmas bingo once with Courtney before they got engaged, then they were married the following year. I spent so much time with them, usually being the drunken, single friend livening up the place by roasting happy people; the specifics of time evade me. I’m glad they kept me around because I relate more to their relationship than any other for the sole purpose of time. Love doesn’t tell time. And although things might have seemed rushed to other people, it was the perfect timing for you all. Aaron and I met and I knew in a week that I wanted to share the same airspace with him more frequently than anyone else. I can’t imagine spending time away from him even if it means suffering through strange family gatherings.

While I stood there in the line of bridesmaids, I learned three things on June 25, 2015;

1. I learned that while Ben’s stoic mannerisms kept him quiet in large groups, his love for Courtney was getting louder because he said the happiest day of his life was the day of their wedding

2. I learned that several of the people in coral dresses today would also be in and/or at my own wedding (whenever that was going to be).

3. Courtney had found the perfect guy. For years, I watched her struggle to love herself in hopes that someone else would, day after day reassuring her that she’ll find the right one when time came, not wholly believing myself, then along came Ben. And I learned that day, all of her self doubt had become a thing of the past, and that I was right. Everyone in that church knew that he knew you were perfect.

Happy one year plus a baby! Thank you for making me feel much better about not having a time-stamp on marriage.

Mallory & Jon:

I could not wrap my bachelor-esque ego-fueled mind around why Mal would okay everything with Jon before acting. Now, I totally get it. You two are so in love and want nothing but each other and the others happiness in return. I also know how hard you must have loved each other to keep your engagement so beautifully pure. Age was not a factor for the two of you (calm down those who don’t know Mal & Job, its only like a four of five year difference) meeting while Mal and I were juniors in high school and Jon was the edgy “older guy”. I remember the day Mallory’s eyes changed when she told me about Jon setting in Fiona (my Kia Sportage) in her driveway. That glow hasn't left those magnificent blue eyes since, and because you have Jon, I know it never will. I so cannot wait to have the marriage you two do.

Happy, (almost) one year anniversary! Thank you for letting me play a small part in the first day of the rest of you lives.

Collin & Cherish:

I can remember living on campus, going to parties and Collin and Cherish always matched. They never left each other’s side and sometimes Cherish would say things like “well Collin suggested it” be a drink, a sport, or a tv show. Cherish, you loved him with so much of yourself, that anything he said or thought highly of must mean something, so you trusted that reference. Now, the both of you are champion body builders lookin’ hella good in all that tanner and sparkly pizzazz. However, I assure you nothing looks better than your love. I fully understand how one of the pair’s hobbies becomes encompassing and fun. Aaron and I play Dungeon’s and Dragon’s together, we work together, we spend as much time as we possibly can together, and there is no shame from this lady. I’m so glad I’ve found someone who looks at me like I’m a million bucks the way I remember Collin looking at you several years back. Congratulations on your recent engagement!

Erica & Zack:

I don’t have any siblings, but what I do have is better, a little cousin who I’ve watched blossom in the most stunning young bride-to-be. Well, I suppose little is the wrong word, younger, and only by 6 years. Erica fills me joy and I love every minute I spend with her. She is my sister, and this big sister is proud as hell that you have Zachary. He’s so fantastic and treats you like the sassy diva that you are. When I said you’d have to compromise on your work schedules, I had no idea what I was saying. Now that Aaron and I work together, I can’t imagine reverting to when we were on exact opposite schedules and would go days without actually spending time together. Zack has been so welcomed into our village of a family. He’s just as much of a goon as the rest of us, and I’m so in love with your love. Why else would I not put up a fight about spending my birthday away from Aaron, while I helped Zack propose?! Because of the bond you and I had long before we got the luxury of finding our soul mates in Zack and Aaron, I will always be in your corner and there to stand by you, when you eventually take his name.

And for everyone of you out there thinking marriage should only be between a man and a woman, you’re wrong and I have proof. Love does not know color, it does not know sex, love only knows which part of your soul is missing, and likewise, it knows when it finds that missing piece.

Darrell & Corey:

I knew Corey back in high school, and little did I know, he would become one of my best friends in college. From baggy pants and a “meh” attitude accompanied by a not so “meh” beard, to a bubbly, wonderful young man so happy in love with the man he’ll spend the rest of his life with. Darrell, on the other hand, I was not always fond of. Back in my drinking-until-class started days, I always mocked Darrell for looking like a “hot mess express” as he would say. Later, we become friends, through class, work and ultimately, Corey. When the two of them first got together, it wasn’t under ideal circumstances, but time has formed a bond so severe, that myself along with the rest of their squad is convinced, only death shall do them part. I’m so glad I was a part of the proposal, and I’m so glad that now my life, my vocabulary, and my definition of love have been even more fine-tuned by what the two of you share. Happy engagement love birds, I can’t wait to drive the struggle bus all up in that reception.

Kayla & Megan:

Growing up with two different people who you never would have pictured together can bring strange flurries of nostalgia. Kayla and Megan are no exception to this. I grew up with both of these lovely ladies, always thankful I had Kayla on my side whether it be for the purpose of roller skating more aggressively than everyone else, singing Spice Girls karaoke, or just because she was so damn tall no one ever messed with her. Our friendship was more constant throughout high school than mine and her beautiful fiancé’s, although I had known Megan longer. Girls, when I first heard of your relationship, it wasn’t through the most…literate of resources. Papaw Bj was trying to piece both of you together. In an attempt to tell me who Kayla was “going with” he described Megan as “That little skinny girl you (meaning me) bowled with”. “You know, really cute, big eyes”. He could have literally been talking about any 8 year old I knew once upon a time, but I’m really glad that it was you, Megan. The love you two share is a) stronger than Kayla, and b) stronger than an old man trying to “fix things”. Some how, some way, y’alls love is so pure and so real, my grandfather OF ALL PEOPLE was excited to come to your wedding. He loved that you all love each other so much. Now, whether it was human compassion or he thought of it as a bonus, we’ll never know. Rest assured, girls, in a few short weeks, BJ will be there with bells on.

This article is dedicated to my happy couples who have truly showed me what it is be in love and has been brought to you by an epiphany that I had recently.

True love is not measured and cannot be quantified nor can it be restricted, forced, or arranged. That kind of love that cannot be broken.

It is the kind of love that cannot be suppressed by waiting, and distance; the kind that I’m so thankful I’ve been able to witness, but never truly understand. The kind that no matter the circumstances, can soften the coldest hearts, bring a tear to an old man’s eye and give the rest of us hope for love is the kind that I never thought I was going to find. Oh, but when I found it, my heart knew. It jumped, and leapt, and cried, and cried, and cried, because I hadn’t in years. My soul has found it’s mate and in a rush of emotion, I understood why everyone I mentioned above did what they did, why they do what they do.

We live our lives in accordance to the happiness of our happiness, our soul mates. You can’t control who you love, you can’t change your past, but you can learn from everything. You can learn what your S/O likes and dislikes, you can learn what makes them laugh, and how that makes you cry because you’re just so damn happy to be spending the rest of our miserably short lives here on earth with the one person that makes your heart erupt into the most serene song to ever escape its strings.

Not until I scrolled through my Facebook feed and got teary from those very posts I had once scoffed past, did I fully understand that I had what everyone else did. I had found true love. Just thinking about how people on this planet think that there are stipulations on true love, makes my blood boil; because in reality, we each got really lucky when we found our missing pieces.