Way too Much Plot: A Trip into Consumerist Weddings, Old Folks, and Good O'l Rock and Roll (Part 4)
Inbetween naps in the car, I took some photos of the scenery on the way to Anneh...Anie...the home of the Mouse! The area we were driving through was nothing but tall, rocky mountains, and rolling fields with the occasional falling apart building or rusty farm equipment. I've never lived on a farm, but have always had a soft spot for this kind of scene. It reminded me how someday I plan to go to Kansas, simply to take photos of this sort of thing. That will have to come later.
I nodded off, only to wake up to the site of thousands of birds of paradise zooming past my window. The Disneyland rose garden was located off of Paradise drive, that would explain it. It was around this point I started losing patience with grandpa. I love the man to death, but he is old. It wasn't his fault we kept missing the parking lot, but it wasn't helping my tension. The events of the day and the lack of sleep were starting to creep up on me. I needed a drink, bad.
After walking to a hotel, realizing it was the wrong one, and walking all the way to the correct one, it felt like I was walking on bloody ankle stumps instead of feet. Finally grandpa listened to me and we looked at a "you are here" sign, leading us right to the rose garden. At first it was hard to tell if we were at the correct place. The only people around were a bagpipe player, a few large women in red dresses, and three cute Japanese tourists dressed like slutty Esmeralda (from Hunchback of Notre Damme), Snow White, and Strawberry Shortcake respectively. If it turned out to be the wrong place, I knew we were at least on the right track. At this point Brent and Jam appeared, assuring us we reached our destination, and for the moment I could rest my feet.
I remember a pair of large boobs bouncing towards me, bound in fabric of greyish blue, embroidered with black beads. A high pitched squeal of "MEEEEEELANIEEEE!" filling the air, and then a clumsy embrace. Whoever said Diana didn't know how to make an entrance. It was good to see her, though I don't remember what she said. Most of the time she talks so fast it's best to just try and get the gist of things. Another hug; Gabe's mom. A "you're so beautiful," and a hug; Gabe's dad. It was then I noticed Gabe's grandfather sitting on a bench in front of me. Grandfather Graham, an ex police officer dying of cancer, spending the rest of his life building a cottage out in the mountains. If ever there was a mountain man, this was him. I love this man, and it was good to see him again. However, I made the mistake of asking him how his dogs were. It turns out he had to put one of them down. It was having terrible seizures and it got to the point where the seizures would last for hours. Not having the heart to put the dog through more pain, he put one between it's eyes, the hardest thing he had to do in many years; he told me this with tears in his eyes. Daniel, Gabe's cousin, chimed in asking if he used a twelve gauge. The conversation then turned into one about guns, and somehow the mood was lightened.
A parade of women in red dresses walked by holding bouquets, followed by a very tired, very stressed looking bride. However she wasn't so pre-occupied that she couldn't throw a scowl my way. I hoped at least she would smile a little when she'd walk the eisle in a matter of minutes. An even more stressed and tired looking Gabe appeared in front of me. I gave him a hug, which lead to no response. He must of read my face because he apologized, and then said he couldn't find Scott, who was his dad's oldest friend/ co-worker/ preacher for the wedding. If Gabe didn't find Scott, there would be no wedding at all. He quickly ran off with his father, tension high in the air.
I figured this bought me a few more minutes, so I headed towards one of the gift shops surrounding the garden. My attention was immediately drawn to a sign that said "ARCADE". Giggling I took Jason by the hand and we walked into what seemed to be just a shop full of overpriced glass miniatures. It was when we got to the very back we found a glass door, and just behind it a small arcade. No DDR but it had an old Simpsons Arcade machine, I hadn't seen one of those in years. We spent a few quarters on a prize machine and headed back to the rose garden, my feet throbbing at this point. Jason's foot was throbbing too of course, as even though he still had the broken ankle, he chose to wear both of his shoes instead of the boot cast, just for the occasion.
The garden itself was beautiful. It was cut off from the rest of the area by walls and walls of white roses. A trail of rose petals led to the bright white gazebo, with a swag of deep red roses hanging on the highest point of the archway. Arden and I sat in our little white chairs, our heads swimming in the joy of live bagpipe music. Grandpa watched us and rolled his eyes, never taking to the bagpipes. The mood was quickly broken by Diana, who couldn't understand why Gabe would have bagpipe music playing when he's Mexican. I tried to explain to her in frustration that he is only half "latino" and that I thought he was Irish on his mother's side, but was interrupted by the wedding starting.
It hurts not being part of a wedding when you're very close friends with not only the groom, but the groomsmen as well. At this point however, I chose not to care as it was my important job to film the wedding, as everyone else seemed to have forgotten their camcorders. This was, after all, history in the making. The music settled from bagpipes to classical violin as Kevin and Danielle, Crystal's bridesmaid, walked down the aisle. Kevin seemed nervous, but kept a warm, calm smile on his face, as is his nature. Then Jam came arm and arm with his bridesmaid, very serious, but also walking at what seemed a much faster pace. Then came a couple I didn't know, I assumed they were Crystal's friends. Then, it was time for Brent to walk the line. He had a very stern, very serious aura about him. AN expressionless face, very careful walking. This was Brent's third time being a groomsman, and he didn't take the job lightly. Had Jeremy fucked up, Brent was next in line to pick up the pieces. Jeremy and a bridesmaid walked down the aisle. His every creepy, ever weaselly grinch-like grin playing as an almost casual reminder that we were supposed to be having a good time.
A good five minutes passed. Five uncomfortable minutes. Where was the bride? Did she chicken out? The garden then suddenly filled with laughter, as we caught a glimpse of an old fashioned fire truck, driving the bride to the aisle. She was greeted by her father, who walked her to a waiting Gabe, and to Scott, who thankfully showed up. It wasn't until this moment, that I realized how beautiful the tradition of a father walking his daughter down the aisle to her groom, really is. There's something about a man, who raised this woman since the day she was born, handing her into the trusting hands of the next man to care for and love her, that is so moving and beautiful it's hard to describe.
There was tears and laughter on both sides. Brent swears that Jeremy was crying, but I haven't seen the footage up close yet so I'm not sure. This is however, worth investigating. They kissed, they walked down the aisle, and jumped onto the old fashioned fire truck, getting carried off to get pictures taken. As we were leaving, Steevie, who Jam brought, stood there crying; un-responsive. There was no time to worry though, we did, after all, still have a reception to attend.
(To be continued)
I nodded off, only to wake up to the site of thousands of birds of paradise zooming past my window. The Disneyland rose garden was located off of Paradise drive, that would explain it. It was around this point I started losing patience with grandpa. I love the man to death, but he is old. It wasn't his fault we kept missing the parking lot, but it wasn't helping my tension. The events of the day and the lack of sleep were starting to creep up on me. I needed a drink, bad.
After walking to a hotel, realizing it was the wrong one, and walking all the way to the correct one, it felt like I was walking on bloody ankle stumps instead of feet. Finally grandpa listened to me and we looked at a "you are here" sign, leading us right to the rose garden. At first it was hard to tell if we were at the correct place. The only people around were a bagpipe player, a few large women in red dresses, and three cute Japanese tourists dressed like slutty Esmeralda (from Hunchback of Notre Damme), Snow White, and Strawberry Shortcake respectively. If it turned out to be the wrong place, I knew we were at least on the right track. At this point Brent and Jam appeared, assuring us we reached our destination, and for the moment I could rest my feet.
I remember a pair of large boobs bouncing towards me, bound in fabric of greyish blue, embroidered with black beads. A high pitched squeal of "MEEEEEELANIEEEE!" filling the air, and then a clumsy embrace. Whoever said Diana didn't know how to make an entrance. It was good to see her, though I don't remember what she said. Most of the time she talks so fast it's best to just try and get the gist of things. Another hug; Gabe's mom. A "you're so beautiful," and a hug; Gabe's dad. It was then I noticed Gabe's grandfather sitting on a bench in front of me. Grandfather Graham, an ex police officer dying of cancer, spending the rest of his life building a cottage out in the mountains. If ever there was a mountain man, this was him. I love this man, and it was good to see him again. However, I made the mistake of asking him how his dogs were. It turns out he had to put one of them down. It was having terrible seizures and it got to the point where the seizures would last for hours. Not having the heart to put the dog through more pain, he put one between it's eyes, the hardest thing he had to do in many years; he told me this with tears in his eyes. Daniel, Gabe's cousin, chimed in asking if he used a twelve gauge. The conversation then turned into one about guns, and somehow the mood was lightened.
A parade of women in red dresses walked by holding bouquets, followed by a very tired, very stressed looking bride. However she wasn't so pre-occupied that she couldn't throw a scowl my way. I hoped at least she would smile a little when she'd walk the eisle in a matter of minutes. An even more stressed and tired looking Gabe appeared in front of me. I gave him a hug, which lead to no response. He must of read my face because he apologized, and then said he couldn't find Scott, who was his dad's oldest friend/ co-worker/ preacher for the wedding. If Gabe didn't find Scott, there would be no wedding at all. He quickly ran off with his father, tension high in the air.
I figured this bought me a few more minutes, so I headed towards one of the gift shops surrounding the garden. My attention was immediately drawn to a sign that said "ARCADE". Giggling I took Jason by the hand and we walked into what seemed to be just a shop full of overpriced glass miniatures. It was when we got to the very back we found a glass door, and just behind it a small arcade. No DDR but it had an old Simpsons Arcade machine, I hadn't seen one of those in years. We spent a few quarters on a prize machine and headed back to the rose garden, my feet throbbing at this point. Jason's foot was throbbing too of course, as even though he still had the broken ankle, he chose to wear both of his shoes instead of the boot cast, just for the occasion.
The garden itself was beautiful. It was cut off from the rest of the area by walls and walls of white roses. A trail of rose petals led to the bright white gazebo, with a swag of deep red roses hanging on the highest point of the archway. Arden and I sat in our little white chairs, our heads swimming in the joy of live bagpipe music. Grandpa watched us and rolled his eyes, never taking to the bagpipes. The mood was quickly broken by Diana, who couldn't understand why Gabe would have bagpipe music playing when he's Mexican. I tried to explain to her in frustration that he is only half "latino" and that I thought he was Irish on his mother's side, but was interrupted by the wedding starting.
It hurts not being part of a wedding when you're very close friends with not only the groom, but the groomsmen as well. At this point however, I chose not to care as it was my important job to film the wedding, as everyone else seemed to have forgotten their camcorders. This was, after all, history in the making. The music settled from bagpipes to classical violin as Kevin and Danielle, Crystal's bridesmaid, walked down the aisle. Kevin seemed nervous, but kept a warm, calm smile on his face, as is his nature. Then Jam came arm and arm with his bridesmaid, very serious, but also walking at what seemed a much faster pace. Then came a couple I didn't know, I assumed they were Crystal's friends. Then, it was time for Brent to walk the line. He had a very stern, very serious aura about him. AN expressionless face, very careful walking. This was Brent's third time being a groomsman, and he didn't take the job lightly. Had Jeremy fucked up, Brent was next in line to pick up the pieces. Jeremy and a bridesmaid walked down the aisle. His every creepy, ever weaselly grinch-like grin playing as an almost casual reminder that we were supposed to be having a good time.
A good five minutes passed. Five uncomfortable minutes. Where was the bride? Did she chicken out? The garden then suddenly filled with laughter, as we caught a glimpse of an old fashioned fire truck, driving the bride to the aisle. She was greeted by her father, who walked her to a waiting Gabe, and to Scott, who thankfully showed up. It wasn't until this moment, that I realized how beautiful the tradition of a father walking his daughter down the aisle to her groom, really is. There's something about a man, who raised this woman since the day she was born, handing her into the trusting hands of the next man to care for and love her, that is so moving and beautiful it's hard to describe.
There was tears and laughter on both sides. Brent swears that Jeremy was crying, but I haven't seen the footage up close yet so I'm not sure. This is however, worth investigating. They kissed, they walked down the aisle, and jumped onto the old fashioned fire truck, getting carried off to get pictures taken. As we were leaving, Steevie, who Jam brought, stood there crying; un-responsive. There was no time to worry though, we did, after all, still have a reception to attend.
(To be continued)