Wedding Bells Part 1

The Anaheim hills were especially dry as we drove through a suburban neighborhood off the 55 freeway. Winding through one housing development after another, trying to find this park nestled somewhere between the grocery stores and Circle K's.

"We're gonna be late," said my mom in an accusing tone I'd come to know as love. "I told you we should have left before the the golf match ended."

My dad ignored her as he frantically searched for Linden Park. It was so hot outside I couldn't even lean my head against the rear window without getting burned. A little readout on the dashboard said it was a stifling 97 degrees. A great day to go swimming at a pool or the beach, not so great a day for an afternoon outdoor wedding.

My collar choked me as I struggled to feel comfortable in drab dress pants and a button up shirt. My brother sat opposite me, equally uncomfortable, equally annoyed. I hoped we'd never find the park. At least in the car there was air conditioning and my mp3 player. Outside my window was the anticipation of a purely miserable hour and a half.

I imagined what awaited me. The intense heat beating down on my tie noosed neck, all the hot air building up. My brow and arms so sweaty it was like sitting in a self contained sauna. Long drawn out vows, outdated rituals, and hundreds of people I don't know and probably wouldn't care too. And to top it off I'm supposed to be happy that I'm watching a grown man cry as he walks his daughter down the aisle to a guy who in just a few short hours will be having sex with said daughter. How messed up is that. Even the Japanese didn't surrender until until they got nuked twice and i'm pretty sure we didnt sink the ship they surrendered on.

"John, there it is! Hurry up and find parking it looks like they've started the ceremony," she barked as my father skidded into a stall like Jason Statham in every movie he's ever done.

"Grab the present Evan, quit dragging your feet" my father commanded. If I was dragging my feet it was only because they were were melted into the asphalt.

The ceremony began ten minutes after we arrived, much to the chagrin of my now haggard looking parents and everyone else who were fanning themselves with the program. On stage at the front stood a nervously smiling guy about my age. Actually younger than me by a year. We went to school and church together for a long time. His mom and my mom were friends, and that is how we ended up at the wedding of a person I haven't seen in 7 years.

I always disliked the waiting portion of the wedding and how it was so built up for the bride. The groom had to stand in front of everyone grinning like an idiot until the bride finally got her act together and the music played and a parade like procession accompanied her. I mean, standing up for the bride? Should we lay down palm branches too? I wonder what would happen if I touched hem of her garment.

His name was Jeremy. His eyes darted back and forth from the pastor to his parents. He beamed with happiness.

The music started. The wedding party walked the aisle in the first official joining of their two lives. His friends hand in hand with her friends. She walked out behind them with her father, who was not crying but smiling himself. We stood and though the bride was stunning in her gown I mostly watched Jeremy's face. He was glowing with a strange mixture of what looked like pride and relief. His eyes welled up a bit and I got the feeling that the heat of this early summer like day was lost on him.

After they were pronounced man and wife the party moved indoors where we were thankfully in the comfort of air conditioning and live music. Now I was happy. Plus there were always attractive girls at weddings. Who knew what was going to happen once I loosened that tie.