Bingham House, McKinney

It was the night before our wedding, and my bride had booked us each a room at separate bed and breakfasts in McKinney, Texas where we were to marry the next day at the Surrey House and Gardens. At first I was against spending the night before our wedding alone. But once I entered the Bingham House, I knew my little weirdo had made a brilliant move. It's BIG, but well lit with antique lanterns, candelabra, and chandeliers. The mellow glow illuminates an enormous staircase and foyer, walls covered with a brocaded sort of wallpaper and the floors of gleaming dark wood. And the quiet of the place! Even with other guests I felt I had the place to myself...but without a sense of loneliness. In my huge room, an old man's antique portrait (the original owner from the early 1900s) smiled down at me knowingly from above my king sized nest. What did I do? I locked the doors...took a long lush bath in an antique tub...and meditated. Thinking about my bride, how we met, everything I love about her, everything that drives me nuts but I still love because it's part of "She". Months of frantic wedding planning and all the stress it brings, all the money spent, and the crowded and serious social occasion I knew I had to face the next day (and had dreaded somewhat all along), changed for me. Suddenly, getting this chance to just BREATHE in this hushed, polished old place - no TV, no phones, no family, no friends, no pets, not even my bride to distract me - I knew the future I'd picked to spend with her was just RIGHT. All of these crazy details, all this work and money, my GOD they were so worth it. This was the best way for a marriage to begin. Not drinking and rowdy parties with naked girls I cared nothing about. But peace, deep thought, happy reminiscing, and allowing all my hopes for the future to get their chance to come into focus. Sure, I�d had my own crazy bachelor party, too. The night before the eve of my wedding. But a wedding eve is so special...sacred...holy. It is the last night of the old life...of childhood, really. The last night to stand alone. So spend it alone, think about who you really were. Because after 5 years of marriage, you'll be able to remember that who you were was NOTHING compared to who you will become - together - with her by your side. Good luck my friend. And never give up on her.