Wedding Survival Guide For Chiarian Fathers of the Groom

[Guest guest]

Fellow Chiarians,

Last Saturday our oldest son was married to a lovely gal from Baltimore. The

wedding was held in the Loyola College chapel with a reception at a hall that

specializes in weddings. To say the least my vertigo and rare short term memory

loss was of concern to me and my family. To acclimate myself to turning on the

dance floor, my wife and I practiced some of our jitter-bug and slow dance steps

weeks before the wedding. Not to embarrass myself and the families of both

groom and bride, I restricted my " dancing " to my wife and daughter. Only got

a little dizzy during the first slow dance with my wife. This was one of those

" everybody " look dances and I believe my neck stress level was a little high

))) Of course if they would have allowed me to wear my New Balance

crosstrainers with my tux I am sure this would have never happened )))

Alcohol and caffeinated foods and beverages are of course in wide abundance at

most weddings to include this one. I had a half a glass of wine and one small

chocolate Danish at the rehearsal dinner and my tinnitus immediately

intensified. With that constant reminder, I limited myself to one sip of wine

at the reception. Bottom line for Chiarians: Stay away from alcohol and food

containing caffeine even at weddings.

The chapel did not have railings on the steps on the main steps. They did have

a ramp entrance at another door. I used the ramp as did other guests.

Wedding pictures were taken on the three-step altar after the ceremony. My sons

had alerted the groomsmen to help me on any steps. And indeed they did. Twas a

little self-conscious about this but hey it sure was better that falling.

Only forgot one name and that was at brunch the next morning at the hotel. I

was introducing a friend to two of my wife's cousins. Remembered the name of

one but completely forgot the other. Very embarrassing since I have known these

cousins for over thirty years but hey after surviving a wedding with 150 guests

in attendance, this Chiarian did not do too bad memory wise. The cousin is the

mother of seven children, all married and she already has nineteen

grandchildren so I do believe forgetting a name is no big thing to her.

I don't drive much anymore especially on busy roads. I therefore rented a limo

for the wife and I. Rode in style through the streets of Baltimore. I was a

nice treat for the two of us.

At the rehearsal dinner, I talked to the husband of the maid of honor. He is a

pediatrician and I always try to promote the Chiarian cause in the presence of

doctors. Surprisingly he was well versed in ACM symptoms and at present has

three patients with ACM. He was very interested in WACMA and copied down our

web address.

Type to me anytime about surviving a wedding. I am getting to be a pro.

Peace from Philly,

Bernie