The
bride was radiant in her low cut, slit thigh-high bejeweled dress. The groom looked distinguished in his dark
blue tuxedo. They were getting married and we were invited to their reception.
If their grandchildren had been there, they certainly would have remarked how
happy the couple seemed on their wedding day.
This
was a Palm Springs wedding but one without the requisite cute little flower
girls, beaming parents and young attendees anxiously awaiting the dance and
drinks afterwards. Welcome to the
wonderful world of romance set in Palm Springs and replete with its own set of
rules for love and marriage among the senior set.
After
knowing each other for quite some time, the bride and groom finally decided to
get married. Now on the back slope of
their full and active lives, these two lovers decided that a walk down their
back patio was entirely plausible and right for them.
The
wedding and reception was held at the couple’s home in the Tennis Club
neighborhood just west of downtown Palm Springs. It’s a picturesque area steeped with over a hundred
years of romance and love in its history.
Its
surrounding mountains form the oldest neighborhood in Palm Springs. Life there
began in the 1880s with one of the first settlers to the area. San Francisco
Judge John McCallum tried unsuccessfully to develop agriculture in the desert
sands. The first settlers in the area lived in homes made of adobe, railroad ties,
and clapboard.
The
neighborhoods unique charm is highlighted with its eclectic mixture of over 400
homes, condos, apartments, small inns, boutique hotels, and upscale
restaurants, many of them surrounded by historic stone walls.
Secluded
behind those walls the tabloid stories began and have continued to multiply
over the years. Lucy and Desi first came
here for their weekend escapes from Hollywood. But long before that other
Hollywood celebrities came there under a cloak of secrecy to get away from the
maddening crowds. Starlets galore have always haunted the area in hopes of
being discovered. It’s all written on the bedroom walls and in literature
promoting tall tales of yesteryear. Most of it is true and what is exaggerated
still helps sell a lot of hotel rooms.
Many
of the wedding attendees were members of Sharon’s swim group. They were a mixture of full and part-time
residents. Much like our neighbors around Indian Canyon, these were very accomplished
folks who have been lucky in life and love…even if it’s for the second or third
time around.
There
was the restaurateur of an historic Hollywood hangout with his new Russian
girlfriend. Everyone seemed to be vying
for the couple’s attention and perhaps an invite to his restaurant.
A
number of old school pals had flown down from Calvary, Canada to kibitz with
the groom. No one quite understood just
how he had made all his money other than something about real estate and
financing. But it didn’t seem to matter. He was a generous guy and everybody
liked him.
Several
women in the crowd stood out for their miles resurfaced and yet bodies to die for. I don’t know if it was diet or exercise or a
surgeon’s magic touch. But I’m betting on the latter.
Splashed
among the crowd were several jackets and pants that offered a rich kaleidoscope
of color. The women were decked out
pretty well too. There were diamonds and jewelry galore; each gender vying for
the most weight allowed. It was like a glam set for the well traveled.
Despite
their Botox and billions, they were a fun group to talk to…as long as you didn’t
take yourself too seriously. This really
wasn’t our kind of crowd. It was like slumming…only moving upstream.
There
were few assumptions and even fewer expectations among these folks. Many of them have been there before and
traveled a sometimes rocky road to their current success. It was fun to exchange
travel notes, hear about their latest acquisition or toys and, of course, the
weather back home. The crowd was warm and friendly. Everybody found someone to
talk to…even if some of the conversations just skimmed the surface of
pleasantries.
I
guess it just goes to show that everybody needs somebody even at our advanced
age. Love comes in many different forms
and flavors. Who am I to judge what attracts one person to another?
We
toasted the bride and groom and wished them the very best. I think many of the folks there secretly hoped
that if they were ever alone at this age they would also find the joy and
excitement of love once again.
It
might be a lot to hope for.
Nevertheless, in the warm glow of that winter moonlight anything seemed
possible.
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