All Quiet on the Western Front

Driving in California is such a relaxed experience. Wide open roads, well behaved pedestrians, expansive freeways. Just hop onto any street and it's cruise cruise cruise. Manning a car in New York is, in comparison, like going from a walk to a trot on a horse -- your ass is in the same seat but it's a totally different ride.

Going up and the down the streets of Manhattan, I felt like all my spider senses had to be on. Don't bother me, don't bust the music, stop squirming in the backseat; I need to concentrate. In my rented (bright yellow) Aveo, otherwise known as the smallest car ever, I felt like a toy waiting to get smashed. Or I was certain I'd kill someone as they haphazardly stepped out onto the street.

My death defying stunts this weekend were all worth it though, as one of my best friends from college got married. In a small way, I feel somewhat responsible for Greg and Caroline getting together since it was through me they met. Basically, I used to hang out with Caroline a ton her freshman year and one day she called for me but Greg picked and said I wasn't there. That was how they started talking. When they read "their story" at the wedding and I was name checked, I swelled with pride. I feel like I got to befriend both of them separately and equally before they were a couple and that's something rare and special.

I was also there at the beginning of their romance. Ever since we were freshman, Greg and I had planned to visit the Natural History Museum together. Well, we finally got around to it the summer before senior year but during our day long excursion, I couldn't get Greg to match my enthusiasm looking at all the (dead) animals. He kept on hanging back, waiting, sitting, talking with Caroline. I couldn't figure out what the hell was going on. Only later that summer, when I was told that they were kind of going out did I realize that I'd been an unwitting third wheel yet again. The two of them even took me to this make out spot in Queens that night, one that beautifully overlooked the city. I was totally clueless.

At least it was all for a good cause.

During the wedding, Caroline's brother was bawling. He's twenty three or something and looks like a typical New York ruffian. The two of them are super close and he's got the same New York - FOB accent as Caroline (even though neither are FOBs; it's just a very particular accent). He used to always call Wilmot and ask "Iws Cawoline thwere?" Anyway, Andy really seemed heartbroken to see Caroline leaving the house. He was a fountain of tears the whole night and during his speech -- which he had written on his Sidekick -- he was alternately tearing up and saying the funniest things of all time.

Some of it, paraphrased:
"Caroline sniff sniff thank you so much for everything. Scroll scroll. Thank you for teaching me how to be the man of the house, because you always were. Thank you for driving me around that one time when some boys jumped me and you took me to go look for them. I'll miss hearing you scream during Knicks games. And Yankee games. Thank you for teaching me how to...sob sob...curse!

Greg, I don't have much to say to you because all you ever said to me was 'Hi' and 'Bye.' I think Buster (the family dog) talked to me more."

All in all, the wedding was really fun, with the best wedding food and catering I've ever experienced. It was like a mini-college reunion and laughs were had all night. Greg always said that college would likely be the best part of our lives but as he and Caroline will prove, there's some good stuff after that too.

Pictures: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5