There are times when the fear of loneliness takes an unusual form.
I thought it was dinner with the in-laws.
Let me go back a bit and perhaps you will understand.
It started when Judi told me that her parents had
invited us to a formal dinner. Oh yea, I needed a tux
as well, and it was in Chattanooga. Gee, at the time the
news just seemed to get better and better. Now I do
like good food but honestly I am more of a t-shirt and
jeans, hamburger and fries type of guy. Give me a good
gumbo or something of that nature and I will be happier
than if you gave me something that was all organic,
free range, received therapy, massaged daily by vestal
virgins, only allowed out on sunny days, given daily hugs
and 24 hour a day hot and cold running compliments
emu wings or whatever. I do kind of hick gourmet, I like
name brand hot sauce and ketchup. I find myself more
and more drawn to the ethnic foods that are not royal
table fare but more of what the average person would eat.
So you can perhaps understand my apprehension and lack
of enthusiasm for this dinner.
I must admit I was kind of dreading it. I did a little reading on the net to refresh myself on things my grandmother taught me, like what fork for what. It is times like this that I wish
I would have listened to what she said. I can't tell you what it was she did say because as stated before I was not listening. This was friday. Now let us skip ahead a little more to saturday,
the day of destiny. Okay, not destiny but it kind of felt that way. I was in fact scared i would be obviously from a background where I was not exposed to such things. I was not afraid of
embarrassing myself for anyone who knows me will attest to the fact all i have to do is open my mouth to let that premise fly out the window. I was more afraid of embarrassing Judi's parents and most horrid to me of all, Judi.
The first thing that happened that started to turn my feelings around was the sound of a little voice almost yelling "Uncle Bryian!!" Yes, the neices, the human embodyment of chaos and energy, wrapped in almost fear inducing cuteness. Tegan, the oldest, has been my buddy for quite a while made the times we had fun. Then there was Tamsin, who has those eyes that can melt your
heart. Then there was Tearnan, wee and cute. Then there was Ellie and Matty. Here are my futrue accomplices in some adventure somewhere. I did not get to spend as much time with Logan, but as he gets older I should. Yes, that is right, I spent a good deal of time with my 5 neices. I have now decided i am part jungle gym and have developed a new appreciation for "Why did the .... cross the road" jokes." All else fails use Eilly's punchline, " Cause it had no guts!" Matty has a grip on the universe like no one else i have ever known "What is great about being Matty? Cause I'm Matty!"
Wow.
I put on the tux and the smile I had set aside for formal occasions and we headed down to the dinner. The hallway to the convention center looked like a zeppelin hanger and in truth was a bit overwhelming. Then, at the end of the hall things suddenly changed. Not an oh look at the pretty decorations change, more like the someone slipped the brown acid into my coffee changed.
There at the end of the hall stood 4 stormtroopers.
Yes, I said stormtroopers.
I said softly to Judi "Imperial checkpoint, just keep moving they will not notice us..." in my best Jedi-like calm tone.
My stomach turned slightly. Not as in a sick type of turn but more of the effect of gravity when your in an airplane and they pull up, climbing into the sky type of feeling. That was in fact the feeling of the evening pulling itself out of the perceived nose dive. We got our "special passes" (read free wine bar) and we were off and running like a bunch of caffeinated jawa! We entered the main area and it was full of displays from all sorts of science fiction. There was Star Wars, Star Trek and the list went on and on. There was a Wookie, a twllik, Vader and a D2. There was Pava Laguna from 5th Element and The MIB's. Oh yes, geek heaven. Each display had a table with some tasty eats from a different chef. There was this beef stew on bread thing and weird Reese's covered lamb chops.
There was a partially vile scallop with fresh sea dredging and some sushi that was to the far end of the awesome scale.
The food at the dinner was, well, okay. It looked "interesting" not in that "my how artful" but more of a "is this from our planet" type of way. Fluffy soup. I think you get the idea.
Then, there was the bartenders. Oh those gifted and very generous people who as the night moved on their freedomin measuring became greater and greater. One of the best quotes of the evening came when I took a drink of a white russian and winced slightly. My comment was "That was a
bit strong." Mike, without missing a beat added "Looked like you had a drink of distilled ass!" Good one, Mike. If there had been a quick second drink the photographer would have been coated in white russian.
We had our pictures done, or more correctly to quote the photographers assistant "We had our pictures made." Yes, somewhere there are pictures of me in a tuxedo.
I had a blast. There in that little point of time was embodied all the things I miss about the South. Kindness, politeness, friendliness and all combined with the act of charity. Conversations with people I did not even know who treated me like an old friend the whole time. Smiles that were not
plastic or forced, but warm and full of heart. These are the things that make up being a Southerner to me. Not flags or hatred. Not slurs or discrimination. Just people being people in the right way for the right reasons. I got to spend time with Mike, Eric, and Chuck; my brothers-in-law. We found
we have a lot in common, beyond the Taylor women. In truth, we had a load of fun, perhaps more than we should have but it made for good times. I had a little time to talk with Mandy and Teri, my sisters in law. Good women with good hearts. It was one of those evenings that you did not want to end, but none the less it had to.
Yea, the dinner was nothing like I had feared. Sometimes it is good to just go with the flow and let things happen. Do not try to fight the stream, but seek a middle path. Don't listen to the fear, just be.
Such is the way of the universe.
Till next time,
Be mindful and awake
