So yesterday I followed the lead of all the other lawyers in my shop and started the long weekend early. They were all busy in places ranging from Brazil to Sarasota to Aventura , and I didn't see the point in being the only fool there. The secretaries, or assistants as apparently they must now be called, love it when left totally to their own devices...
Besides, Wifey and I had some driving and celebrating to do...we did the 1.2 hour rush hour run to Pembroke Pines, and went to Donna and Barry's house. My nephews of a different brother waited to greet us -- Scott is home after completing 1/2 of his college run at Maryland, and young brother Josh is busy about his phone fixing ways...their cousin Gabs was visiting, and the three had plans to meet Gabs' friends in Wilton Manors...but first we caught up a bit, and promised to meet soon for some breakfast or maybe a corned beef sandwich at Stephen's restaurant.
From there we cruised up the road to Boca, where Eric and Dana hosted a Friday pre wedding party for their girl Jenn and Ben -- the REAL Bennifer, as the sign said. They picked a place called Maggiono's, and as we arrived at the valet, a woman was walking in who positively shouted BOCA. She was probably 70, or nearly, dressed like the Ds friends. She had a slim figure, and from a distance passed for late 20s, but when she turned to us we saw the truth, under the blonde hair. We all got a good laugh.
Inside, beer and wine were poured, and 40 or so folks gathered. Eric and Dana led the shabbat candle lighting. We caught up with their extended family, including Dana's brother Steve, who has been a favorite of mine since we met in '83.
The place serves family style Italian, and I broke my low carbs diet for the night, with ravioli, eggplant parm, and ziti.
I met Ben's parents -- interesting folks now living in New Jersey. His dad is a retired Army Colonel -- he was a chaplain, and he's a West Point grad. They have three kids -- one born in Ohio, one in the southwest, and one in Germany. I thanked them in advance for the martinis I planned to consume at the wedding -- I think part of their wedding contribution is paying for the booze...
We left around 11, and retraced our route, this time with minimal traffic. After dropping Donna and Barry in the Pines, Wifey and I cruised back home, to happy puppies.
Today we may see Loni and Mike. Yesterday Mike had his best day as a lawyer, in his entire 31 year career. He represented a Uruguayan steakhouse breaking a lease on Brickell. He got them an excellent settlement, but the owners want to stay in South America for awhile. So they told him to go to the restaurant and load up with as much premium steak and cases of wine he could carry. Mike enlisted a young, strapping associate to help, paid the fellow in steak and wine as well, and then happily carted off quite a bounty. He plans to grill some later today.
When I told him Wifey and I were headed to the Northwest for a mid summer trip, he consulted Loni, and it appears they'll be joining us. We're thrilled -- Mike's the guy who plans VERY well for trips -- he knows where every largest ball of twine is located. And we always laugh heartily, as do our wives, at our expense. So that ought to be an awesome trip.
We fell asleep around midnight, and then at 6:30 Wifey's phone went off. It was the Palace. I figured it might be the news that I'd have to miss the wedding, but it was just a standard notification that my suegra was found on the floor by the morning nurse. She's fine - just a turtle on its shell that needs to be flipped over so it can keep schlepping along...The Palace tells you when this happens. Wifey seemed none too concerned -- she fell back fast asleep. I guess she'll go over later to check on the now righted turtle...
And tomorrow we leave the dogs in the care of two lovely neighbor girls, and we head off to Boca again -- for the real Bennifer wedding. I look forward to sharing this joyous night with my brothers Eric and Barry. As Eric reminded everyone, I was his best man nearly 31 years ago, and now we're blessed to come together again for the next generation. And, of course, we have our own big, fat, Colombian wedding just three months away.
One of the old friends last night was Sherra, who we went to college with. She and Barry actually go all the way back to high school in Broward. Sherra and I hugged, and agreed to meet only for joyous times -- weddings and Canes games. And let it so be...
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