The Wedding Day - Part Eight

Irene and Doris see me passing by the kitchen. They corner me and ask, "Have you eaten tonight"? "Absolutely," says I. Irene says, "Exactly what have you eaten"? And nothin' comes to mind. I couldn't even recall what was on the menu. The truth was I hadn't had a thing all night. I am grabbed by the earlobe and dragged to the table. A plate of roast beef, butter chicken and rice materializes. Delicious. As I am recharging, I speak to Irene about the same stuff discussed with Auntie M earlier in the day regarding Pops, the resurrection and the psychic. Again a very comforting conclusion for us both.

All in all, Mel and I both had wonderful exchanges with the myriad guests over the course of the evening. We just kept bumping into smily, happy, laughter-filled friends with well wishes for us both. Magical. there were a few notables that were unable to attend due to health reasons. Not their own. But persons dear. Phil and Rose were in Belleville with Phil's family mourning the passing of his dad two days earlier. Soprano diva extraordinaire Ms. Samantha Pickett who was to perform that evening was up in Waterloo with her mom and dad, mourning the passing of her most beloved Grandmother. And Stewart and Donna Sargent made it as far as Kingston earlier that day when the phone rang and they had to return to Montreal for a family medical emergency. All sorrily missed and our hearts are with them.

As the evening wound down, Miss Mel and I are sought out and escorted to the studio where we find our two wonderful kids seated in a circle on the floor with most of their friends and some of ours. Andrew Dawson has the mike. There is a Compi (sp?) about to begin. My first actually. This is a very fine tradition that the kids have begun some years ago where, when they get together they take time to formally speak to one another about what they are thankful for, what the friendship means to them, what's currently on their mind in general. Mel and I join them.
Mel's turn arrives. She states how thankful she is that her children were able to spend most of their educational years in such a creative environment with such a talented group of friends. She's crying ... . Again.

My turn comes up shortly there after and I let them know that I have friends here tonight that I have known since I was 5 years old. Friends of over 50 years. The most precious gift that anyone can still enjoy from their youth. What they have here is special indeed. And I hope they all can say the same when it's their time to look back. I then let them know how thankful Mel and I are that we built the music room and they have all come to use it and enjoy, time and time again, over the years. Big round of applause.

Ryan goes to take the mike. I say "Hey! Not done yet! I was on stage in front of 100 of my Canadian colleagues at a conference in Scottsdale, Arizona, 15 years ago when I singled out my sweetie in the audience and sang her, "Fly Me To The Moon" for our 10th anniversary." I look at her across the circle and begin again. Fifteen years later. This time with my kids. Immediately I am joined by all the singers in the group and we pull off a fantastic accapella eight-layered harmony that was as sweet as it ever was done. Lisa sticks her head in the door and says "It's 2 a.m. Your taxi to the plane is in four hours and there are three little dogs exploding all over my house. Let's go."
The End.
J.
PS I don't know who did and i never asked, but I didn't have to clean up the mess. Here or there.