The Wedding Invitation

So it's like this:

Hana was my dorm mate from boarding school days (and partner in crime for teenage misbehaviour).
To say that she is an old, dear friend who I consider to be family is an understatement.

One day Hana went to the states to get her Masters from Yale.
While there she met that handsome fellow right there, Antoine.

They liked eachother enough to get engaged some time later.

And their wedding is next month.

In Bali.

Oh man. How cool, right?

(but isn't Hana gorgeous in this photo though? Their kids are going to look amazing)

*photographs property of Hana Makarim*

For the past few weeks, Hana and fellow Jakartian and ex-UWCer Tania, have been checking in with me to see if I'll be able to make it or not. I tried my best to see if I could, but I can't.
Initially I was very upset after juggling dates, finding out that I couldn't make it.

A heavy heart was weighed down further when this card was delivered to my previous workplace yesterday. Picked it up from Kent after work.
It has to be said that this is by far the prettiest and awesomest wedding invitation I've gotten.

Further down I spied the rest of the itinerary over the days leading up to and after the wedding.

I've already told Hana I can't attend and at the risk of her following through on her threats of rethinking our friendship and possibly flying out here to beat me severely (nah she likes me too much to ever do that, really), I'm happy in the knowledge that one of my dearest friends whom I love to bits and little pieces, will be surrounded by people who love her as much as I do.

And while it hurts a little that I won't be there to see her and to meet up with other UWCers like Tania (whom I was supposed to be sharing a room with), I know she'll be having the time of her life.

And for now, just knowing that, is good enough.

Congratulations Hana and Antoine. I'll see you when you head over here to climb the mountain.

All my love Banana,

Dilsh