The Aftermath

The dance floor was full, and I turned to my brother and remarked:

“All these kids listen to is hip-hop, but have you noticed that all the songs they’re playing and singing along with are rock and roll?”

Goo-Goo Dolls, Bruce, Journey, AC/DC, Rod Stewart.

“Great music will always have a place,” John said.

The photos are being passed around - my nephew John has to be in about 700 photos - I shared this one because it’s the one I could find where he wasn’t making a funny face.

(That was one of his Dad’s favorite pastimes).

Then there are all the conversations shared. Kathy and I met when Matt was just a year old, and life could’ve been dramatic.

I was walking into the venue when I spotted Matt’s Dad. We shook hands and he turned and said:

“I was thinking. We did all right. Some thirty years and neither of us said a cross word about one another in front of Matt.”

It was something I’d also been thinking about.

“We should do a shot to that,” I said. “And you’re right. It just would’ve been a waste of time. Now, let’s talk about the Yankees.”

“Ahh, Jesus,” he said, laughing.

Halfway through the ceremony we found Matt and did the shot, and shook hands. Matt had a huge smile on his face. 

The lessons of fathers are important ones.

There was one small hiccup that came as a result of Camp Clifford being a full-service restaurant.

They served a filet.

“Sam is choking or something,” Jake announced. “He’s trying to throw up.”

I headed to Sam. He wasn’t drinking much so that wasn’t the problem.

“What’s up?”

“I cut too big a piece of steak,” he said. “It didn’t go all the way down.”

“Bah!” I said.

My sister Corinne yelled at me:

“That’s what you get for cutting his meat for the last 20-some years.”

No doubt. I often cut the steak and season it as I cook. 

Thankfully ginger ale did the trick and Sam was back on the dance floor soon enough.

The tuxes seemed to have survived the night.

Sunday morning was for football with Ollie and resting my tired body…

…until the boys showed up.

“What are we doing today?” Johnny asked.

“Getting away from you,” I said.

“Ahh, come on. We can’t waste a whole day.”

“Beat it,” I said. “Give it 40 years and get back to me.”