I don't generally care for weddings. They are like funerals with an extra stiff. Wring and I flew off to Las Vegas to "elope" when we married. But this weekend, the young man I have been mentoring in the arcane arts of show-biz electronics got married and we were invited. he is a good fellow, and a pretty good friend as well.
SO we piled in the car and took off to find the resort club venue. Maybe an hour drive. Down a winding little road to a lakeside, it was like a golf club without the links, a lakeside resort for hire. Inside were lots of uniformed people scurrying around. Seating chart had us at table #2, they ushered us into the hall, pointed out our table and guided us to the seats in the main floor.
As we arrived, so did a fellow with a guitar, "Hey, the band is here." My standard line. He hung around briefly before setting up on a chair up front and playing for the hall. Before he started, I chatted with him. I said, "You know there is always some asshole at every gig who hollers out Free Bird as a request." He agreed. I continued. "Well, I am that asshole, and for just a dollar I won't shout it out." he didn't bite though. I was hoping for some quick cash.
Table #2 was wring and I, my former business partner an his wife, a luthier from Elderly Instruments and his wife, plus the just mentioned guitarist. We are all people from the groom's musical world. Another talented guitarist was seated with us, but didn't show up.
As we sat in the seats, they played some music for the procession, and wring says, "Hey, it is the music from Princess Bride." Later verified by the groom. The hall was classy enough, tables all set in fancy fashion. Wedding pretty typical, a bit long winded preacher. And following remarks from family and wedding parties. After the ceremony, they had us all walk to the end room while they cleared the chairs. Tres odd. Then we all sat to table. A number of servers hovered around passing out small tastes of things. meatballs, little beef things, hot stuff with toast. There was also a bar, but I wasn't drinking.
Each table was set with silverware, glasses, etc, but also some swag. Each couple at our table got a pizza cutter printed "for a slice of love" and a ice cream scoop, for a little scoop of love. yeah, I know... I know the groom mainly from my profession, and as a technical person, we appreciate tools. At this point in life it is darn hard to find a tool I don't have, but I don't have either of these. Dinner was pretty good.
I called the guitarist "the band" but he was just the warm up. There was a real band too. Unfortunately the drummer forgot his cymbals, had to drive halfway back to Lansing for his kit. Someone drove from the other end with them to meet in the middle.
The couple had to do all the power schmoozing table to table. I envy them not.
We had to leave right after eating. SO I missed the band, and it turns out the groom also played later on. he is a talented player as well.
But we had to go to a social function elsewhere. Wring was meeting up with a party of friends from 50 years ago. After driving up and down a neighborhood with street names like Glengarry Drive, Glengarry Circle East, Glengarry Circle West, Glengarry Court, then calling the party several times asking how to find them. "We are on Glengarry at 1009." Thanks. The neighborhood is way upscale from me. LArge fancy homes with circular drives. None had address numbers on them, too gauche I guess. At one point we were standing on a sidewalk, and another driver pulled up and asked if we were looking for the party - he was lost trying to find the same place as we.
Eventually we found it. Wring rushes in, leaving me to park the car. As I walked up the driveway, I encountered two lovely young women in party dresses. One says "Hi, who are you?" Now 30-40 years ago, these ladies would be out of my league, but these days, I can talk to anyone, so I cleverly said, "I'm Enzo, I'm here with Wendy" They each introduced themselves. I explained I was just an old. worn-out hippie. One of them said that was OK, they were new hippies. And we all went inside, where I quickly lost track of them. it was a happening party.
The place was fancy, marble floors, wine cooler in the hall way. A bunch of food was laid out, but we had just come from dinner. A couch full was watching NCAA basketball playoffs in one room. Lots of smiling talking people. Wring introduces me to Bob and Carol. And takes off to schmooze. After a moment with B&C, I retired to the TV and watched BBall. I was driving, so no drinks for me. Other than wring bringing by a stream of childhood friends and making me a dog and pony show for her Enzo products, I had little to do other than run my smile muscles.
My face still hurts.
We have little or nothing on our busy social calendar, yet we had two in the same day.