WHY DOGS LOVE WEDDINGS

Buddy knew something was up.  His bed, food and dishes were being loaded into the car while he was still in the house.  Soon he joined his earthly belongings in the car.  Head stuck outside the lowered back window, nose pointing into the cold night air rushing at him at 35 miles per hour,  we drove the short distance to visit J. J., a shiny Black Lab.  Buddy would employ his good social skills to gain the run of the house with J.J. during Jenny's wedding in Atlanta.

Diana, JJ's mom asked if Buddy went alone to other rooms during the day?  "No Ma'm, no need to go looking for him.  He'll be as close as hosiery to a leg - your leg."  Buddy's a family dog.  Our family.  Your family.  The neighbor's family.  And, with those great social skills, he would absolutely love the wedding.  Why there are people hugging, talking,  walking, dining, dancing, laughing and smiling - broadly.  Bud has all of those skills and more.  Need your hand or foot licked?  Need that dropped Asiago cheese and cracker picked up?  Want a few white hairs on your pants?   Bud's on it.  Labs are bred to be part of a family and nothing defines family more than a wedding!

Jenny married Brian last Saturday in Atlanta.  Jenny grew up in Fort Wayne while Brian grew up in Los Angeles.  This was not two high school sweethearts reconnecting.  More like the forces that guides most couples to connect: friends and fate.  Like a field of dreams to which "people will most definitely come", a wedding is the most time honored ceremony cementing bonds of affection and creating relationship stability.  Few traditions have survived since the ascent of humans like marriage and weddings.  Oh, did I mention the party?  While Buddy gets the benefit from the stability, he would love the party!

That's why they came from L.A., Wellington, Glendale, Sleepy Hollow, Boston, Minneapolis, New York, Fort Wayne and Atlanta.  It was as if their presence was required to validate the latest evidence of what they have always known to be true and good.  Cousins and cousins-in-law, aunts and uncles, sorority sisters, teammates, colleagues, dear friends and of course parents.  Early in the party older guests were honored with music they could actually remember and dance to.  A marriage longevity contest yielded an aunt and uncle married 45 years.  "During the rough patches, look for the good parts" was the advice given to the newly minted couple and by inference to the rest of us.  Good advice for all relationships.

Lady Gaga, Jay-Z and others later graced the DJ's turntable ousting Andy Williams and Ray Charles as the witnesses' graceful two-step dances gave way to dancers' flailing arms and legs trying to summon the best for Jenny and Brian.  The ceremony and party satisfied tradition and guaranteed it would continue for others. 

Plenty of memories and predictions, laughs, drink and food, gifts, advice and best wishes.  Bud would have loved it, especially the fumbled  hors d' overes.  And so did we.  Our best wishes to Jenny and Brian.  Be sure to always look for the good in each other.