I have a wedding story for ya!
My older brother was getting married and the wedding was in a teeny tiny hick town called Jamestown, ND. He called me and said, "My friend is the best man and John (our little brother) is the groomsman. I don't have a spot for you in the wedding party so I don't know what to do with you. How about if you bartend?"
I was a bit taken aback and usually pretty quick on the uptake but this had me floored. I stammered and agreed. Quick talk and then hung up.
Joe had been listening in and immediately started in. "He wants you to BARTEND? At his wedding? You're BROTHER? Tell him to HIRE his OWN friggin' bartender!!! What's wrong with him? You're his BROTHER! He's getting married and he wants you to WORK?!!!" and on and on and on....
It didn't occur to me to be angry or insulted. But Joe was pretty pissed. So I thought and thought and thought some more. And I realized what my bro had asked me was indeed pretty insulting. So I called him back and said, "Y'know, I was thinking about what you asked me and I'd really rather not have to work at my own brother's wedding. I'll just be a guest if it's all the same to you."
And then he changed his mind and told me he wants me to be an usher with his fiancee's brother. I thought the only guys in the wedding party were his best friend and our younger brother? But I wasn't to bother getting a tux or anything. Thought it was weird but I didn't argue.
Anyway, I get to Jamestown for the big day. At the wedding, ALL the guys but me are in tuxes. I had on a nice suit but was the odd man out. Very embarassing. Then when I was told my usher duties, my older brother told me that the rest of the wedding party would be sitting up front but I had to sit in the back of the church (about twenty rows behind the last guest) and seat any late comers.
Mind you, I was never in a wedding party so I didn't know what was expected of me. Thought all this was normal.
So I sat by myself during the ceremony. Not even with my parents. Not even with strangers!!!
It gets better! I was told I had to toll the bells at the end of the service up in the bell tower. So I didn't see my brother walk down the aisle. I didn't meet any of the bride's family. I was up in the tower by myself.
Then I was told I had to collect all the flowers and left over programs and load them into a pick up that was left behind. The wedding party, in the meantime, loaded into the limo and went off for photos and then the reception.
And I did what I was told. Loaded everything up, thinking that someone would be coming back. An hour passed and no one showed. Couple things you should note: I'm a New Yorker and don't own a car, hence, I don't drive. Even if I did drive, I didn't have the keys to the truck. And I didn't know how to get to the reception, no one told me where it was.
Now, mind you, I'm a big mouth but didn't say a peep. It was their day. Not mine. Had to keep repeating this.
Finally, the janitor or super came out of the church and saw me leaning against the hood of the truck. He asked me why I was still there so I told him. And he tried to make light of the situation and gave me a lift to the reception.
Anyway, it gets even better. I get to the reception and grab something to drink. As I round the corner, I see my family, the bride's family, all posing for a picture. FLASH! Thank you! It was the family photo and I was forgotten!
Then I overhear that the priest is now saying grace with the bride, groom and the immediate family before dinner was served (I missed the appetizers, etc...). So I ran to where this was happening only to hear a group wide, "Amen..." Missed it! No one thought to get me even if I was immediate family!
So I ask you, anyone on the Tag think maybe my brother and I aren't particularly close???
I guess I'll have to wait until we get back from WDW. Oh and then another couple weeks because I'll be leaving town again a few days later to see my sister in CA. And the day after I get back from there I'm spending 3 days at a scrapbooking convention - taking classes and going to late crops. Wahhhhhh, I may have to wait for it to come out on DVD before I get to see it.
) so you can go see whatever movie you like! (Can you sense the jealousy? I've only been to maybe 3 movies in the last 3.5 years!!!)
Hey, how do you like the pink shiny cumberbunds?
.....And poor Rose Marie Cherie....I feel like sending her a sympathy card or something! Jeeez louise......what's this country coming to
