That is Archie. Who was one of the stars of the wedding. Well, actually the wedding dinner. He gave one of the cutest speeches ever at the wedding dinner. He even wrote a poem for Michael and Mikaela.
Archie likes to draw. He likes to draw maps and he likes to draw fairies.
On the Sunday evening following the wedding, while we were still in Stockholm, DearSweetDave and I joined Archie and his sisters and his dad and Michael's parents and their friends for dinner. And guess where we went? You'll never guess. Or maybe you can tell from this picture?
We went to TGIFriday's!
I'll wait while you all pick yourselves up from the floor. Perhaps a glass of cold water will help to resuscitate you? I know it is positively impossible to believe that I, Nakedjen, proponent of all that is organic and wholesome, actually ate at TGIFriday's. And that I did it while on vacation in a foreign country! I should have my passport revoked immediately.
But it's true. Steve and the kids wanted to eat at TGIFriday's. I put up a mild fuss, explaining that there was absolutely nothing on the menu that a girl who doesn't eat cheese or fried things or things with a mother or face could possibly eat, but at the same time my fuss wasn't of Veruca Salt proportions. There was no stomping of feet. There was no spitting. I don't even think I crossed my arms and pouted. In fact, I think my words were, "Well, I suppose we can join everyone and make it work...or I can find something else to eat later."
So off we went to TGIFriday's. Believe me the irony was not lost on me. We were in Stockholm. And we were eating at an American chain restaurant that I would never eat in if I were at home. Pfft.
But Archie saved the day. He keyed right into my distress and asked all kinds of questions about my quest for vegetables. Why I needed them? What kinds I liked? Why I only ate vegetables and didn't eat hamburgers?
He and his sisters were also quite intrigued to learn that I was a REAL fairy. It didn't take much to convince them. I promised them I had many sets of wings that I had sprouted myself and the only reason that I wasn't wearing them that day was because we had all just been to the wedding and it was important that everyone look at Mikaela and not be concerned about what was sticking out from my back. So I had purposely left my wings at home in America.
Archie drew a picture of me, Nakedjen, the vegtabal fairy. You'll notice that he included in the picture a carrot and a veggie burger. And that he rated me on a percentage scale for my helpfulness, prettiness, kindness and temper.
Obviously I was on very good behavior that day, as I only got a 5 for temper. So despite eating a chicken Caesar salad where I asked them to please hold the chicken and the Caesar (my big bowl of iceberg lettuce), I somehow managed to keep smiling and not ruin the evening for everyone else! We all know I'm quite capable of doing just that, so like I said, I was just on very good behavior that day.
I did, however, make DearSweetDave promise that it would be our very last meal at an sort of restaurant of that ilk while we were on our vacation. And I tried to let it go. Obviously, I didn't completely let it go, because here it is, a month later, and I'm telling all of you about it.
But I did let it go for the remainder of the trip. And I won't ever be eating at TGIFriday's ever again. No matter where I am. That's much I can promise you!
