The year is 1987 and it is the day after Xmas. It’s cold and incredibly windy in upstate New York and for some odd reason I thought THIS was the season to wear a floor length white gown!
I married the love of my life on 26 December 1987. I had always wanted to be married in the fall, so that was what we had planned for 1988. We moved it up because of John’s military career. We moved it up 10 months, and in doing so, started rumors that I was “expecting”. I proved them all wrong by wearing a sheath dress that could hide NOTHING. This was the only Saturday John was able to be home from the Air Force Tech School he was attending in Denver. Getting married the day after a major holiday is, as you would expect, a blessing and a curse. We never forget the date (bonus), and we can shop for the Anniversary during all the pre-holiday sales. Downside, all of my gift receiving events happen one right after the other (my b-day is early January).
I am the one in white with the exploding head dress!
As any bride would be, I was concerned with the food. Even more so since I worked in the industry as a waitron (to quote my “boyfriend” Anthony Bourdain). My then boss wouldn’t even give me a discount on the reception! The task of planning the reception was made doubly difficult by the additional fact that I changed the date AFTER I had already laid out deposits for the original date AND that a lot of places were closed on the 26th. And let me further tell you that in 1987 there were few decent restaurants in Hudson, New York and the surrounding environments. In the end I found a great place with a fine Chef who did exactly what I wanted (imagine that!) with no arguments and it was wonderful.
The thing about “banquet” food is that if done properly it can be great, if done the usual way it sucks. John’s Aunt Mary, who hates everyone and everything, told me, and I quote, “I have been to my share of weddings young lady and that was the best food I have ever had at a wedding.” I knew I had chosen wisely! Whenever Mom goes to a wedding, my first question (and hers to me if I go to one) is, “How was the food?” What follows in our conversation is a complete recitation of the events at the reception, the hors d’oeuvres, the drinks and the cake. While most people get all excited about the cake (and that is a topic for a different blog) I LOVE appetizers and hors d’oeuvres and I have ruined my appetite for the main course more than once by enjoying them.
The weird thing about weddings is that as a young person you think the way YOUR family & friends do them is the ONLY way to do them. Being from NY, with my family, there was ONE way – cocktail hour with open bar, dinner, dancing, cake and more drinks and dancing. Simple, right? Now that I am several years older and have been to more than a few weddings, I know there are dozens of ways to celebrate that are as individual as the couple getting married. When we lived in Spain (we moved there 6 months after we were married), all the waitrons were talking one day about their weddings and I was shocked that theirs were so different from mine. One gal eloped (moment of truth – that’s what JOHN wanted to do), one gal had a reception for 350 people in the church hall with nothing but punch and finger sandwiches (no music, no bar), one gal had a backyard BBQ and on and on and on….I listened politely and wasn’t really eager to share my story with them, they already thought I was a snob, and claiming I had work to do, got up to leave. They insisted I tell them of my wedding and so I did. None of them knew what an open bar was (and frankly thought I was insane for paying for everyone’s drinks), they had no idea what Chicken Piccata or Baked Clams Oreganata were, and they were scandalized by the amount of money I spent (which wasn’t all that much in NY $$). None of them ever spoke to me again outside work, I was the snob from New York.
For years our Anniversary dinner was Chinese food. And in some of the locales we have lived, finding a decent rendition was a nightmare. We have moved on. John pulls out all the stops these days. Recent Anniversaries have had us at Hotel Occidental Mexico, at RM Seafood, Fleur, at The Beatles Love, and the list goes on. This year it is French food with a David Myers spin at Comme Ca in the Cosmopolitan and I am sure it will be fantastic.
As I write I am eagerly awaiting the wedding in March of my High School friend Bobby to his long time partner Chris. I know it will be a fantastic affair and I am not even talking about the food. Finally, after all these years, my two friends who belong together can legally tie the knot. I am thrilled for them and for so many others.
This week, spend time eating, laughing and loving those you care about. It’s the best remedy for the post Holiday blues and once you get started you’ll get hungry for it and do it all the time. The pics are all weddings I have digital photos from (so they are recent)….
Sister Nancy & Walt at their Re-marriage – October 2004
Niece Kate & Hubby Mike – March 2011
Brother JJ and bride Jenna – Sept 2006
Tracy & Greg and best man Dennis – April 2010
This week’s Food Memories include, lunches on the fly with my favorite kid, the annual tradition of Xmas Eve pizza and the veto of my 7 fishes ideas, and the delighted look of pleasure on the faces of the folks I delivered cookies to.
Until next week, go out and make your OWN Food Memories!
