Valkyre

September 23, 1986

20 years ago..... We were in Las Vegas. I have a vague memory of going to the county courthouse downtown. We got the Marriage License. We also found out that the blood tests we got a few days before were unnecessary. Did we have breakfast? Did we eat lunch? I can't remember. You tried to see me in my wedding dress. Your aunt kicked you out. You went to the chapel, with Glenn and Mike. Your aunt and I went downstairs to the hotel lobby to wait for the limousine. It was provided by the chapel. A Chrysler Reliant K Car with a roof stretch pulls up. A "K" car limousine? Yeup. We are whisked off to the "Little Chapel of the Flowers". Everything from then on is a blur. I was worried I would blow my vows. I did fine. I remember your ring would not go on. I grit my teeth and shove it on your finger. He pronounces us man and wife. We turn and walk down the aisle. Your best man turns to the side to shake your hand, only to see our backs as we try to hurry out of the place. Everyone laughs. It is 3:00pm. The limousine has to be at another chapel at 3:00pm. He still has to take us back. We are in a crappy Reliant K Limousine doing about 60 miles an hour down the backroads of Las Vegas. We are parallel to the strip and can see the back of the hotels. You jam your leg against the back of the front seat to brace us so we will not fall over as the car makes it's right turns at about 40. We make it back to the hotel in one piece. Dinner that night is at a fancy restaurant. On our way there, we are walking ten feet above the ground, holding hands. Two women walking towards us, smile, and one says, "Oh look! Newlyweds!" The woman sitting at the piano couldn't sing, nor play very well. She was butchering songs all night. The waiter asked if I wanted some pepper on my prime rib. I nod. He produces a 5 foot long pepper grinder, steps back and puts the pepper on the meat. I find this funny, so do you. We start cracking up. The woman behind the piano hears that we just got married. She asks if we have a favorite song. We didn't want her to ruin any of our favorites, so asked for one we didn't particularly care about. They serve the cake. Everyone wants us to smash it in each others face. We refuse. They are disappointed. I never did like that. I've seen to many brides with tears in their eyes after that has happened. The next day, we get on a plane. We are going to Seattle, Washington. We are going to go meet your mother and tell her that we are married. After the fact.... It will be the first time she has met me.....

Happy 20th Anniversary!