The Big Day....October 6

The Big Day....October 6, 1999

September 18th, the day of the wedding, finally arrived. It was like Christmas; one never feels quite prepared, a plethora of emotions lead up to that one day, it goes by in a blur, and all seems surreal.

I woke up early that clear, cool morning as accompanist Dray had to be at the hotel to practice Ave Maria with soloist Kaylah. There was a bit of delay in getting into the room as no one seemed to know who could unlock the door. As well, poor Ashley was still ill, and not improving in the least.

After leaving Dray and Kaylah, I stopped in to see how Quincy and the kids were doing. It was a brief visit, long enough to drop off the hounds as she was looking after them overnight. The kids asked me how I was doing. I had to stop and think about that one for a few.

"Fine", was all I could come up with.

Arriving home, I called The Goddess to see how preparations were coming on her end. All seemed in order, although we were chastised by her mother and aunts for breaking the sacred rule of us not talking until the ceremony.

We never did have much respect for the rules. If she had been at my place instead of at her mother's, we would have spent our wedding day afternoon practising for the consummation.

As it was, I did not have much time for anything but working on the programmes both for guests and for Quincy the M.C.. That little chore took a great deal more time than I had anticipated. Indeed, I spent all afternoon working on things. I would have liked to have had them done before, but there was so much unconfirmed up until that day.

I am sure that is common, but I was feeling a lot or pressure. I was about to lose it. It is a good thing Dray decided to spend the afternoon at my sister's. I would not have been much company.

Getting things done and printed late into the afternoon, I drove across town to a ball field to pick up Lowlandz, the best man, who was coaching his daughter's football game. We zoomed warp speed uptown for me to pick up my tuxedo, then downtown to Quincy's as I forgot to give her the dogs' leashes. Things were in chaos at her place; clothes were not on, hair was still being done, and she needed someone to drive the kids to the hotel as my mother was late. I swear, my mom did thing purposley that weekend to throw wrenches into things. But that is another story.

All I could do was say that I was not able to drive the kids, and I left quickly.

Lowlandz and I arrived at the hotel an hour before the ceremony was to begin.

My nerves started letting me know they were becoming a bit active.

My hands were trembling.

My voice was cracking.

I could not remember the vows.

I had less than an hour to go of my bachelorhood.

....Blessed Be...