Let me tell you, it's fucking strange to attend the wedding of the girl you love.
Her name is Kristen, and she was the first girl I ever loved. I wonder if she knows that. I guess she does now. I'm having my publisher send this to a bunch of people, and she's on the list. I hope she likes it. I doubt it. She's always been too nice for me. Not that that's a criticism or anything, you know, it's just...
Yeah.
The invite arrived out of the blue. I didn't even know she was seening anyone, though I wasn't surprised at all by it. She never seemed to be between boyfriends for very long. She's so nice. People just gravitate to her.
I hadn't seen her since high school, but we'd stayed in touch, in a way. Facebook, and all that. I guess she realized that I was still in town and decided to invite me.
I rented a tuxedo for it. Looked up their gift registry and everything. Bought them a nice cheese grater. From one of those faux-country home-making stores. It was stainless steel. Shiny. I doubted they would ever use it. No one buys cheese these days. At least, not unless they're some sort of foodie snob or something. I don't buy cheese at all. Gives me gas.
They were getting married downtown. Nice big chapel. Can't remember the name for the life of me, though. Catholic. Lots of stained glass, stone. She was some new religion. Wasn't Catholic, I knew that much. Weddings aren't about religion anymore, anyway. I don't think they were ever. Just something for clergy to make some money on the weekends doing.
Parking lot was full, so I parked across the street in some pay-lot. Ten dollars for a few hours. Whatever. I left the cheese grater in the car. Uncomfortably hot in my tuxedo.
I wandered into the wedding. I guess I arrived just before everything got started, since the organ was already playing when I entered. An usher directed me to a seat in the back. I was overdressed. Damn. I never know what's expected.
The organist stopped, and the ushers began escorting in the family. No grandparents for her. Dead, I guess. Then the procession started. I remember being very hot in my tuxedo. Kristen looked nice. Simple gown. The groom wore a tuxedo not much nicer than mine. At least, that's what it looked like. Why wear an expensive tuxedo to a wedding? It's not like you're ever going to wear it again. Same problem with wedding dresses. They're utterly impractical. One use only, but you never want to get rid of it, so it rots in the back of your closet for eternity, or until you die, or whatever.
It was a total bore.