Thunder & lightning -- *ma non troppo*

So I was just reviewing the last few posts, not wanting to start every post with either yesterday or last night, when I realized the need for follow-up…after much searching for that possibly mythical Happy Place, I found it! Or at least one very good interpretation, and that is -- a wedding in New Orleans on Memorial Day Weekend.

To start, we had to kill some time. Can’t get married too early, or the sun will still be beating down upon one’s already red-hued shoulders. So what better way to amuse ourselves than to ponder thunder and lightning with various queries -- is that storm getting closer? How many raindrops can those regal oaks keep out? How can we move 100 feet of already “littered” orange and yellow rose petals into the clubhouse?

Of course, unless the bride is an absolute Bridezilla (which Ashleigh was sooo not), there’s going to be opinions flying every which way -- yes, we should move inside; no we should stay outside – and once having moved inside, all the same questions in reversed order!


In the end, we remained outside, and had passed the perfect amount of time, such that, as we heard “We present to you, Mr. Lamar and Mrs. Ashleigh Gardere!!” accompanied by Mendelssohn, the faces of the joyful couple glowed. It was just like the Alpenglow on Half Dome in Yosemite.

Following this was a party whose very rhythm and aesthetic was captivating, and very much unlike what either Trevor or I are used to. First, a buffet with cheesy grits and preponderance of gumbo. Then, with new sustenance – to the dance floor! That’s right, everyone! We’re doing the Electric Slide – to the left, to the right, come on, Grandma!

This was my 2^nd favorite part of the wedding. Yes, I do believe every single person in attendance, was at some point up on the dance floor. And they are grooouving (yes, with a ‘u’, kind of like ‘beacoooooup’!) Curving this way and that…commanding the space they need for their individual self-expression. And, if under 5, add a good bit of screaming to indicate enjoyment.




Periodically, they’ll form circles, or a line flanked on both sides, inside of which people could take turns doing a “verse”...I like the circle, because there is no implied order that would put one on display. But the line version – watch out! If the starting end forms near you, you may find yourself strutting and grooving down the line, to the accompaniment of hoots and flashing cameras, and possibly a face as red as the sunburn you exhibit.

All told, a dynamic evening, which left us danced out and ready for bed. Some of the candles outside were still burning – looking very much like I felt. We stopped to take a few pictures there, when hootin’ and hollerin’ erupts out of the clubhouse, on a level which we had not seen all night…gotcha! we see we can’t go home just yet, must see cause for hootin’ and hollerin’.

Aha! The Second Line is here! And we come back in, to find Ashleigh and Lamar each dancing under an absolutely fabulous parasol (not sure you call it that for Lamar? murse 2.0?) and buoyed by a brass band. An impressively loud brass band, infusing us all with new life so we could dance a few more songs. At some point (we don’t know how they all know this) it’s like they all know it’s time to move outside. There’s an old car there, the likes of which my Uncle Junie is crazy about, and we are handed little envelopes filled with lavender to shower upon them, as we form one last “struttin’ aisle”, all the while they twirl their par-umb-murse-ella, a-huggin’ and a-kissin’, and soaking up our love and well-wishes, until the momentum almost drops them into the car which putt-putts away into eternity.

Congratulations, Ashleigh & Lamar! Laissez le bon temps roulez!