New York, Part 7: Sunday--Dearly beloved, gathered together
We started Sunday bright and early. After all, there was a wedding to be attended to, and women who needed to be prepared. My brother Steve (the groom), Michele (the bride), Valerie (the soon-to-be niece) and I (the . . . um . . . interested party) all climbed into the car and headed for the salon, where the girls' hair was attended to; the groom went and fetched breakfast for all of us. My hair was expertly straightened into a cute bob. The bride's hair was pulled back and fastened with satin flowers. The soon-to-be niece was treated like a princess and given cork-screw curls, blingy little flower pins in her hair, and finished off with hairspray that contained tiny bits of glitter. It took the stylists more time to complete her than me or the bride, and we were all delighted with the result. She looked like a fairy princess.
Then it was off to the venue, Coindre Hall, a Long Island Gold Coast mansion. We were all whisked away to our respective suites for preparation. Once prepared (in other words, dressed, made up, and generally fussed over), we descended into the chatter of guests who awaited the ceremony.
Steve and Michele really wanted the event to be casual and fun, Michele because she's been married before and Steve because he's that kind of guy. Nevertheless, he looked polished and handsome in his tuxedo, and Michele looked elegant in her strapless ivory gown. The rabbi did a lovely job of keeping it simple and to the point; he also allowed for remarks that were gentle and humorous and sweet. I read Taylor Mali's poem "How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog." (This was a tough crowd. The poem is inherently funny, but people suppressed their laughter. Several people came up to me after the ceremony to tell me how funny they thought it was and that I did a great job with it, but they weren't sure if they should laugh because, you know, poetry is serious business. And here I thought I'd just bombed.)
And then it was time for photographs, food, and fun. I don't even know how to convey what the party was like. There was the four-foot long challah (nearly as tall as the bride). There was the best man's funny and touching toast to my brother and his new wife (that also helped to explain the party favors--tissue packets with a quote from my brother). There was a pie in the face for the groom (a tradition amongst my brother's friends, approved of by the bride). There was much dancing. There was the chocolate-frosted wedding cake with raspberry filling. (What do you know? A wedding cake people actually want to eat!) I was approached by a number of my brother's friends and coworkers who said things like, "You're scarlettina--the legend!" or "I've heard so much about you!". Several women approached me about making them necklaces similar to the one I made for Michele. I danced with one of my new nieces who declared that she liked me because "you're so out there!" I loved dancing with my brother and with his best man. And it was fun to see all these guys I grew up with as adults, lively, funny men, all of whom clean up very, very well.
We ended the evening back at Steve and Michele's place along with the best man. We ate and drank more. I took some time to catch up with said best man. We just relaxed after such a hectic day. Eventually exhaustion got the better of all of us and we all went to sleep.
-----------------------
I headed home on Monday, a long trip--three flights, because it was cheaper that way--with a hard landing, as I wrote earlier this week. That said, I loved this trip. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, adored getting to see the friends and family I miss so much, and even enjoyed my taste of Long Island, which I haven't always been generous about. Now that I have more family to bear in mind, and have been reminded of other connections I haven't considered as much over the years, it's a certainty that I'll be in closer touch.
I was, however, thrown right back into my West Coast reality upon my return, and am already eye-deep in work and weekend planning. I need to find a way to preserve some of the feeling I've come back with. It will be good for me, and healthy.
Then it was off to the venue, Coindre Hall, a Long Island Gold Coast mansion. We were all whisked away to our respective suites for preparation. Once prepared (in other words, dressed, made up, and generally fussed over), we descended into the chatter of guests who awaited the ceremony.
Steve and Michele really wanted the event to be casual and fun, Michele because she's been married before and Steve because he's that kind of guy. Nevertheless, he looked polished and handsome in his tuxedo, and Michele looked elegant in her strapless ivory gown. The rabbi did a lovely job of keeping it simple and to the point; he also allowed for remarks that were gentle and humorous and sweet. I read Taylor Mali's poem "How Falling in Love is Like Owning a Dog." (This was a tough crowd. The poem is inherently funny, but people suppressed their laughter. Several people came up to me after the ceremony to tell me how funny they thought it was and that I did a great job with it, but they weren't sure if they should laugh because, you know, poetry is serious business. And here I thought I'd just bombed.)
And then it was time for photographs, food, and fun. I don't even know how to convey what the party was like. There was the four-foot long challah (nearly as tall as the bride). There was the best man's funny and touching toast to my brother and his new wife (that also helped to explain the party favors--tissue packets with a quote from my brother). There was a pie in the face for the groom (a tradition amongst my brother's friends, approved of by the bride). There was much dancing. There was the chocolate-frosted wedding cake with raspberry filling. (What do you know? A wedding cake people actually want to eat!) I was approached by a number of my brother's friends and coworkers who said things like, "You're scarlettina--the legend!" or "I've heard so much about you!". Several women approached me about making them necklaces similar to the one I made for Michele. I danced with one of my new nieces who declared that she liked me because "you're so out there!" I loved dancing with my brother and with his best man. And it was fun to see all these guys I grew up with as adults, lively, funny men, all of whom clean up very, very well.
We ended the evening back at Steve and Michele's place along with the best man. We ate and drank more. I took some time to catch up with said best man. We just relaxed after such a hectic day. Eventually exhaustion got the better of all of us and we all went to sleep.
-----------------------
I headed home on Monday, a long trip--three flights, because it was cheaper that way--with a hard landing, as I wrote earlier this week. That said, I loved this trip. I enjoyed myself thoroughly, adored getting to see the friends and family I miss so much, and even enjoyed my taste of Long Island, which I haven't always been generous about. Now that I have more family to bear in mind, and have been reminded of other connections I haven't considered as much over the years, it's a certainty that I'll be in closer touch.
I was, however, thrown right back into my West Coast reality upon my return, and am already eye-deep in work and weekend planning. I need to find a way to preserve some of the feeling I've come back with. It will be good for me, and healthy.