Filed under: Pre-Wedding

This Guy and His Mistakes

Littleme

This is me in first grade. I was six years old. (Please forgive the college-freshman Photoshop job. Moral of the story: Back up your files, kids.)

This was the year I first talked to a girl close to my age. This is two years after my brother was born, two years before I would get my first detention (for shouting the word "boobs" during recess), 6 years before I would pick up a guitar, 9 years before I would pick up a camera and 16 years before I would start full-time work. 

At this age, I had not yet driven anything. I had not yet studied anything voluntarily. I didn't know who Nirvana or AC/DC were. I hadn't yet watched Star Wars. I barely knew how to read. I hadn't chosen my college major, I hadn't decided to play basketball, I hadn't even taken a photo. This picture shows a pure John Nelson. (Fun fact: My posse referred to me as "Johnathon" back then. My parents called me - and still call me - "J.R.") 

Anyway, heres the point of this whole post: It tugs at my heart strings to think about the decisions I made between when this picture was made and now. Not that they were bad, but I want to take away the bad parts. The mistakes. Oh, the mistakes. 

But what are we without bad decisions? We're quiet. We're unknowing. We're green. We're inexperienced. 

These mistakes - and triumphs - have made me who I am today. (Well, I guess I should also give some credit to my fair Norwegian genetics.)

As Wayne Gretzky put it: "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."

I've taken my share of shots, but the game ain't over yet.

Although I've made a wide range of mistakes in the past 18 years, I've also made a lot of good decisions. The best of which - without a doubt - was to marry Stacy. 

Here's to the decisions we'll make in the next 18 years and beyond. 

Staying in Check

With only 11 days until my wedding, I'm taking inventory and getting stuff done. I'm checking things off of my list and also keeping myself in-check to avoid stress-induced mental cloudiness.
 
 
To do:
 
- Pick out some music to be played during the meal/social hour before the band starts playing at the reception (about 3 hours)
- Design and print the ceremony programs
- Pack up my little things (smaller than the back seat of my car) in Brookings and bring them to Sioux Falls.
- Exercise whenever possible to fend off anxiety attacks
- Edit my clients' photos in between all of the above (they're aware of my situation)
- Spend time with my family who will soon be visiting from far-away places
- Blog stuff between/after all of the above
 
 
Not to do:
 
- Play Super Mario Brothers on my Wii as if it were my only purpose in life
- Engorge myself on every meal until August 14
- Manufacture a future stress bomb by procrastinating my to-do list
- Watch Entourage during every waking moment of my life (it happens)
 
 
Thank you for sticking with my blog as I get all this stuff done. I plan to start cranking out awesomer posts after the wedding. There's always plenty of subject matter to write about (and/or photograph).
 
Eleven days to go!

One Month

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Photo: The first photo of Stacy and me together. Snapped on Dec. 21, 2005 - one week after our first date. 

With 31 days of singlehood left, I find myself thinking about weird things. Not about bachelor-party-ish things, but about obscure things like jazz music and photographer organization memberships. When I'm not in my cubicle, I'm still playing Wii and taking pictures. I'm not morphing into an obsessed groomzilla. I'm just John.

Call me naive or ostentatious, but I honestly feel like I'm half-ways ready for marriage. I've done my homework (12 hours of marriage counseling and additional hours of reading articles like this one) - and becoming one with my other half doesn't scare me. It quite literally completes me. Pardon the flowery language, but my forthcoming unity with Stacy gives me certitude and confidence in my life's purpose. It feels right. 

I rode the real emotional roller coaster back when I proposed to her. In those days, I was still waiting for the fog to lift. I didn't know exactly what I was getting into, but that's part of the rush. To put it in practical terms, I just knew that I had to move things along. It was quite obvious that we were meant to be together. God put it right in front of me and I liked it, so I put a ring on it. I was ready to commit myself to this girl and this future. 

Now that most of the wedding plans are in place, I'm feeling very well. We've got a great list of vendors lined up to serve us and our guests. Although we've got a couple phone calls to make, the plans are all done. Things are falling in place, but these 'things' are only temporary, largely ceremonious things. August 14 is going to be a great day, but it's the subsequent lifetime with Stacy that I anticipate the most.

For those of you who will take the time to join us on our wedding day, I want to thank you in advance. No matter how many thousands of dollars we may drop on photographers, catering, dresses, tux rentals, cake, booze and music, your kindness and support are really what will make the day special for us. 

See you in one month!

John