If ever you find yourself so overwhelmed with the responsibilites, boredom, and/or chaos of being a stay-at-home parent, then I recommend taking a few days off to reconnect with your former, pre-parental self. Last weekend I did just that.
One of my very best friends in the universe, Troy Lepper, and his best gal Anita (a muy caliente Latina that Troy affectionately calls "Brown Sugar") got hitched in the scenic but chilly mountains of northern Colorado. I was blessed with the opportunity to attend said nuptials sans familia. Bethany agreed to take some time off from work to spend a long weekend with the kids while I was given a rare furlough from my incarceration at the Hartsburg Sanitorium. My friend Rob Scott accompanied me on the epic road trip to Ft. Collins in anticipation of a three day wedding celebration that we were certain would rank as one of the most fun of all time. We were not disappointed.
On Thursday evening, Troy and Anita held a backyard movie night at their home for thirty or so of their favorite people. Apparently, Rob and I qualified. Everyone let their hair down, enjoyed various intoxicants, and laughed until it hurt. The highlight of the evening was an unforgettable burlesque show performed by a very close friend of the happy couple named Lady Ginger Licious, a lovely and unique woman I had had the pleasure of meeting once before.
Friday night involved a fantastic rehearsal dinner at the mountain resort that played host to the wedding festivities. Troy convinced several members of his family that Rob and I were a gay couple, and we enjoyed keeping them guessing for the rest of the weekend. (If you don't know Rob, I'll tell you that he is about 6'4", 240 pounds to my 5'7" 147. An odd couple if there ever was one.)
Saturday was the big day, and I have to say it was one of the neatest ceremonies that I had ever attended. Troy and Anita's good friend Brandi procured a ministerial certification from the ad in the back of "Rolling Stone" magazine and officiated the ceremony as the Right Reverend Brandi Wine. Spirit wands were waved by members of the audience as a blessing of the union. The bride wore a stunning white gown with a rainbow patterned bow tied around her waist which looked absolutely perfect. The bride and groom shook their groove thing while exchanging vows that included the promise to "love, honor, and get funky" with their counterpart for as long as they both shall live.
The reception featured great toasts by the best man Steve "The Fonz" Winkler and the maid of honor/burlesque dancer Ginger. Troy thanked the wedding guests for sharing the big weekend with him and Anita and his speech left the crowd both laughing and crying. As I mingled with the other guests, I realized I had made several new friends over the course of the all-too-brief weekend. Brandi and Ginger are two of them as well as a couple named Billy and Leigh. I spent a lot of time visiting with old friends Ben and Steve and got to know their wives Tara and Rachael quite well. They are now officially friends of mine, too.
Last weekend was just what the doctor ordered for me. I had been feeling quite impatient, quick-tempered, and exhausted by the never-ending responsibility of my job as a stay-at-home dad. But spending a three day weekend with dear friends made all of my stress melt away and now I feel like a new man (for the time being anyway.) This unique group of friends has the ability to lift my spirits unlike any other circle of friends I have had. Each of them is a very positive person who lives life to the fullest while marching to the beat of their own drum. They remind me that it is okay to be myself and not worry about looking or sounding foolish. Troy especially has been a colossal influence in my life and has helped me through many a rough patch during my younger, self-destructive years.
Troy is more than a friend. As I told him after his wedding, he is the big brother I never had. I am the oldest of four kids in my family, Troy is the youngest of four in his. A few years older than me, I think he considers me the younger brother he never had. Sharing the same height and build, the same first initial, the same hair color, the same tastes in music, and at one point a blues show on Mizzou's college radio station, we have a lot in common. Not the least of which is a love of life and a love for one another that was once again, over the course of three days in Colorado, reaffirmed.
Congrats Dr. & Mrs. Lepper, and much love to you both. Stay funky.
