Assuming that Randy had gotten everything, and not really knowing at that point what more I wanted, I told Randy that if he think he got everything than I was sure he did. He assured me he had gotten almost 900 pictures (ended up being more) and so I said to go ahead and leave. I have to admit that not only was I high on the excitement of the event, but I had had a few drinks and honestly no one should have let me make that decision. In retrospect I should have had a list and should have quizzed him as to what he thought he had gotten and/or not gotten. Anyway, so he left.
The longest married couple dance (really several dances—I had no idea it would take so long) was finally coming to an end. Dh’s parents had never made it out there. My parents’ were dismissed when it got to 35 years or more (they would celebrate their 35th in about 7 months). It got narrowed down to my dad’s two sisters and their husbands. I had forgotten that they had been married longer than my parents and would therefore possibly be winners. Neither dh nor I had living full sets of grandparents. It was finally wittled down to my father’s oldest sister and her husband of 44 years…about a year and a half separating the two couples. It was surprising, I really hadn’t even realized that my aunt and uncle could be old enough to have been married for 44 years! This was the couple that I had been so worried about the night we tried to meet at Hurricane Hannas (only to remember that they hadn’t yet arrived in Orlando). The deejay went out on the dance floor to congratulate them. Like a chump, I hadn’t thought of a specific prize or reward for the longest married couple other than applause. The deejay had seemed shocked about this also but handled it well. He cheered for my aunt and uncle and then asked each of them for advice. My uncle is one of THE most shy people you have ever met and he was so embarrassed to be honored for such a thing. He thought for a second and said, “Just keep at it, day after day.” Everyone laughed a little (some I am sure took a more tawdry view of that statement). The deejay then went to my aunt who announced, “I’ll give it to them in private.” This elicited a bigger laugh. I don’t think I ever did get that advice!
The deejay then began to play some general dance music. At some point a swing-like song (not really—more of an At the Hop type song) came on and my brother began swing dancing with my sister.
It’s our thing…my brother and I learned how to swing dance with the group we used to hang out with at dance clubs when I was in high school (he’s five years older than me). We would learn at a club in Manhattan that we would go to visit a friend of his and also at an Italian Club near our house where the octogenarians would go to dance to Big Band live music. The octogenarians got a kick out of our group and took pride in tutoring us. We had managed to learn a number of lifts and throws(like flips?) My sister had eventually joined in with us, as she got old enough also. After they had danced for a bit, I intervened and took her place.
Before my brother moved to Taiwan, we used to dance a good bit and could really anticipate each other’s moves. Now that we only get to dance like once a year, it is a little tougher, but a little bit like riding a bike once you get back into the groove. I loved the way that my dress felt as it swished back and forth.
I love swing dancing but my husband doesn’t have the confidence in his dance ability to do it with me and as an “attached woman” it is sometimes hard to find a swing partner otherwise. It felt so cool to be out there in my grand dress swinging. My brother looked at me as the song was coming to an end and said, “You ready to flip?” It was always the highlight that made everyone cheer…but I wasn’t sure with the dress I was wearing and the slider shoes. He had flipped my sister at her wedding, so I knew it was possible, but I hesitated too long and the song came to an end. I was a little frustrated that I had chickened out and I would be more frustrated when I got home and got the wedding video with no flip (stay tuned...).
Shortly after that the deejay announced a special dedication for our recently married friends, calling them out on to the dance floor to dance to the song that they had danced to on their wedding night. They were a bit embarrassed—not being real lime light seekers.
After a couple minutes of dancing, deliberately trying to avoid the videographer, who was obviously trying to capture their dance. After the first minute, the deejay had announced for others to come out and join them. However, for some reason no one came out. My friend kept looking around him to see whom he might be able to drag out with him. But, still, no one joined them. Finally my brother and his wife came out onto the dance floor and you saw my friend visibly relax, thanking my brother most appreciatively for “saving” them.
Shortly after that more couples came out to dance.
That dance was followed by some more requests, including “Bad to the Bone” to which my newly acquired little 7-year old cousin and ring bearer, who had taken off his shoes, unbuttoned his shirt and rolled up his sleeves, began dancing and sliding on his knees all over the dance floor.
It was really a sight and will make great black mail when he grows up. Our final dedication was to his parents for their 9th anniversary, which they were celebrating two days later, and to my new brother-in-law (dh’s best man) and his wife for their 10th anniversary, which was the following day!
As the evening drew to a close we were able to get more of our friends and family out to the dance floor. This actually turned out to be very important because the videographer only taped individuals if they were on the dance floor or if they offered to give a speech to us on the video. There are many people, as a result, that are not in our video. But at this point we were able to get out dh’s sister and his friends that had traveled down for the event. I even got a little swing dancing out of dh to “our” song, “Beautiful”!!! Not only was it a really nice surprise, but it made for great video-footage. (It might have been a little better if either of us had put down our beverages;-). Another great moment was when my dad and my brother decided to dance (more like ‘jump around’) together. It was such a great moment…as I saw it start to unfold I tried to get the videographer’s attention but the camera was there unattended. I assume he was on a bathroom or cigarette break (I think the latter, but would rather give him the benefit of the doubt) and by the time I found him my dad had walked away, a little out of breath. No problem! I told the deejay to keep a close eye and went and told my dad and brother that they had to do it again to get it on video!! There was enough music left and it worked out perfectly.