I have a busy personal week. A lot of milestones are happening. I flew from Vegas to Chicago. I immediately got an Italian beef. I went to Gene and Georgetti’s yesterday for lunch and last night at an engagement party I was lucky enough to be able to gorge on some Chicago pizza.
My eldest daughter got engaged to a super great guy. I remember when she was born and I walked into the trading pit. Peter Shirk (PIRK) pulled me aside and said, “Congrats on having a daughter. I have two of them. PMS three weeks out of four and instead of worrying about one prick in the neighborhood you have to worry about all of them.”
PIRK was right. PMS three weeks out of four. I had a neighbor, Dr. Joe Boggs. When we moved into the building he pulled me aside and told me to come over and have scotch if things got out of hand in my apartment. I learned that Joe poured a good glass of scotch. He had the most fantastic bar cart I have ever seen.
I am old-fashioned enough to worry more about women than men and I am lucky that my daughter met this particular fellow. I worry no more. If you have daughters you might get the gist of what I am talking about.
Someday this week, my youngest daughter (also married to a super great guy) will give birth to our first grandchild. I had September 1 in the betting pool and that day has passed. If it’s September 7th, it will be on my grandmother’s birthday which would be pretty cool. Champagne for everyone!
The impending baby is fitting right into the family by not being born ahead of, or during, the engagement party. In our family, you never get in the way of a good party.
Today, one of my oldest and dearest friends’ daughters will be married. Except he won’t physically be there, just in spirit. He died from pancreatic cancer. She’s marrying a super great guy too.
Rocks (his nickname) had two daughters as well. Misery loves company.
If Rocks were around today he would be regaling us with stories about how Nick is the greatest son-in-law in the entire universe. Shots would be poured and lots of laughter would be had. We’d get extra blue cheese olives in our martinis today and he’d tell us that today he was pouring the good stuff, not Costco Vodka. Mike was notoriously cheap sometimes. Ask me about golfing at Black Wolf Run with him on a certain occasion. I can hear his voice and laugh now. His buttons would be bursting and shooting off his chest faster than an AR-15 bullet. Mike was short but today he’d be wall to wall and ten feet tall.
All of Mike’s friends will be there today. We are really looking forward to it and it’s our second wedding together this summer. Most of us have known each other since we were in 7th grade, but many of us go back to kindergarten. Truly, with all the shenanigans we engaged in it is hard to believe more of us aren’t dead. I am 60 so it’s a long time, longer in dog years. There will be a lot of laughter, a lot of joy, and a lot of alcohol will be consumed. Just like Mike would have wanted it.
Congratulations to you and your wife! Thanks for sharing. I appreciate a good Italian beef and hope all is well with you and your new grandchild too.
Congrats. Nothing beats getting together with old friends, esp the ones you've done stupid shit with