May 17, 2010

• 
  
  The Daily News

  1    My baby is getting married!

  2    I have known this for a little while, but kept it somewhat secret.

  3    The proposal:  Helene and Nicole worked a CIA op with Caitlin's
  fiancé, Josh. He told K.T. that he was going white-water rafting this weekend with friends, and that he couldn't come down for her "birthday" party this past weekend.
  
  4    Meanwhile, they arranged with The Grill, the amazing restaurant immediately next to the Fairmont downtown, to allow Josh to wait in the kitchen while Caitlin and her friends celebrated her birthday with a limo ride downtown, followed by dessert at The Grill.

  5   Everything was covered. Her friend Shannon flew up from Los Angeles, and surprised her at around 4 p.m. Caitlin was convinced that Shannon was the evening's surprise, and almost killed Shanny with a HUGE hug when she arrived.

  6    Within no time, a whole buncha Caitlin's friends arrived, all dressed up and purty. They celebrated with champagne and wine, and we had food, fun, and music for them when they arrived.

  7    At first, I was a little concerned that the screaming, laughing, and noise would land us all in jail, but they were SO sweet! GREAT friends, those.

  8    The limo arrived on schedule at 9:30, and they all went out of their minds with screaming, jokes and giggles. As me old friend and confidante Gigi once put it, it was time for "shits and giggles". The expression came from some Austin Powers' movie or other. Ha, shits and giggles. Gotta love it.

  9    Anywho, they poured into the limo and took off for downtown.

  10   I had been slowly changing from a T-shirt and Cargo shorts to a coat, tie, and WAY swell hat. Helene and I instantly hopped in the TOOOOOONDRA and headed downtown.

  11   We arrived at The Grill right on schedule, noticing that all the girls were in a back room ordering desserts. We had a beeline view, but figured they couldn't really see us, nor would they really have looked our way anyway. We sat incognito, a pair of clandestine spies, to be sure.

  12    Think about it. If you're in a back room in a restaurant, the rest of the restaurant turns invisible, with you focusing on the people immediately around you. Dudes. It's a party, right? Who looks forty feet away?

  13   So we explained to the crew who we were and why we were there. They were terrific, and into the entire spy op.

  14   Within minutes, Josh came walking in with two dozen long-stem red roses. It was a movie.

  15   He looked a bit lost, but I greeted him and ushered him to our table. Pure CIA.

  16   We proceeded to part two of "The Plan". Helene and I  were to walk straight over to the table, with drinks in hand, and would surprise Caitlin and her posse. Diversionary slight-of-hand.

  17   Meanwhile, Josh stowed away in the kitchen, with roses and ring well in hand.

  18   Well, it worked.

  19   When we walked in, they all started cheering, and Caitlin was beside herself. I plucked a green apple from a huge fruit bowl on the way to the table,eyeballing it, and seeing it as a sort of symbolic Abbey Road gift to my beatuiful daughter. Caitlin has a street sign that says "Abbey Road" in her room, so it had this Beatlesesque feel to it.

  20   After that,  they all wanted us to pose for pics, and made funny and fun.

  21    In all the ruckus, Nicole's boyfriend, Matt, slipped in and joined in on the fun.

  22    The place is romantic and beautiful, if you've never been there, and WAY helpful and cooperative. Go there and spend lots of money; it rocks.

  23    I saw Josh coming out of the kitchen right about then and said, "Caitlin, we have ONE more surprise for you!"

  24    She looked, turned, and instantly saw Josh! She screamed and hugged him with all the love that love could muster!

  25    Everybody started popping pictures, laughing, applauding, and all the rest.

  26    Within seconds, Josh got down on his knee, took out the ring, and said, "Caitlin... will you marry me?"

  27    Time stood still. The entire staff of The Grill stood watching and smiling, and the table next to us applauded.

  28     It was a night for the ages, that's for sure! After everyone stopped laughing and loving, one of the  staff came up and told me that the table next to us bought the bride and groom two glasses of champagne!

  29    We all loved it, and words here aren't even worthy of how wonderful it all was.

  30     We stepped out, leaving them to their desserts, and an entire evening traveling through downtown with a bar on wheels. They went dancing and clubbing, and living life, and loving life. It all just rocked.

  31    How do I describe it? Maybe someday in a poem. Not here. I can't even explain the emotions and laughter.

  32    Amazing night, amazing weekend.

  33    To Josh and Caitlin: live life, love life. What a beginning! We love you guys.

  34     Moving on, Part the First: Hard even to think of much else this weekend. The Sharks came in rusty, and still played a hard game. They got a bit sloppy with passing, shooting and with concentration, but maybe they knew they weren't as imporant as what had just happened at The Grill. Dudes. Really? 45 shots, one point? Meh. Still love you though.

  35    The Giants won, and somewhere in there Ronnie James Dio walked into a bar...

  36    With all due respect to RJD, even his amazing rock presence could do nothing to change one of the most incredible nights of my life.

  37     I was up 'til 3 a.m. and awakened at 8 a.m.

  38     Been up ever since, as of this writing.

  39     So I think I'm going to back off here on a beautiful Monday, and allow you to drink it all in. Many of you watched my girls at different stages of their lives, so I know you "get it". They are both SO beautiful, and I also must give a huge holla and shout out to Helene and Nicole for arranging almost all of it.

  40    We are truly blessed beyond words.

  41    Thanks for listening and indulging about all that. Some fun.

  42     Moving on, Part the Second: Today marks the one-year anniversary of my Mom's passing last year. I can't help thinking that she didn't want us sad at all, and instead brought much of the happiness to help this anniversary become a traditional celebration. Such a sad event last year, but this made everything worthwhile.

  43    Anyway, I want to congratulate Josh and Caitlin, and I also want to say these words: Mom, we all love you, and smile with you on the good fortune that happened this miraculous weekend.

  44    Thank you, and thank all of you for all of your support and love this past year.

  45     Live life.

  46     LOVE life.

  47     Fly low, it's Monday. And Josh and Caitlin, many happy years to both of you. You're so beautiful. May you have nothing but joy and success in everything you do.

  48      Y'all have a lovely day. Stay dry. I love you Mom.

  49     Peace.

  
  

  
  

  ~H~

   
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  • 10:24 am
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