When I was getting ready, organized and spirited to marry Don, I went to the Plaza to book the place where we would be married, on a day when my mother couldn’t have my father arrested for failure to pay child support, for me. I was 29.
I put that in numbers rather than words because it makes it look the more stupid and ridiculous, both of which it was. My mother had been suing him from the time I was a child, when he owed it, and ducked it, everywhere he went, which included Tucson
where he’d gone because Selma couldn’t breathe. She was his wife, and had been a friend of my mother’s to whom she’d introduced him because she was sure Selma would mean his death. Instead, they’d fallen in love and he’d moved there and become Mayor. He’d never been in politics, or a Republican, both of which he did, apparently it never being too late in life to change your skin.
So I went to the Plaza, booked the place for April 28th, and left. In front of the
elevator stood Bette Davis, a great ribbon on her ass, also great. If she hadn’t been a movie star, it would have been overwhelming. I had gone to make the reservation, and told the woman in charge I was Miss Davis, causing some excitement and confusion as Don had announced himself as Miss Davis’ s fiancee, and they thought he meant Bette, who had an appointment at the same time.
elevator stood Bette Davis, a great ribbon on her ass, also great. If she hadn’t been a movie star, it would have been overwhelming. I had gone to make the reservation, and told the woman in charge I was Miss Davis, causing some excitement and confusion as Don had announced himself as Miss Davis’ s fiancee, and they thought he meant Bette, who had an appointment at the same time.
Having been emboldened by the large, sequin-bordered ribbon on her butt, I told The Bette of the confusion. She’d said in true Bette style: “How (breath)…very (breath)… amusing.” It was almost as memorable as the wedding.
The process server my mother had gotten to serve my father had to wait outside the wedding the whole day for it to turn midnight so he could serve
The process server my mother had gotten to serve my father had to wait outside the wedding the whole day for it to turn midnight so he could serve
him, as you couldn’t be served on a Sunday. Inside, all those there sat on which
side of the aisle and lawsuit they were.
It was not a huge cast, but it WAS colorful. Sue Mengers, later to become a major Showbiz Celeb, was among those present, being at the time a close friend which she could be until it wasn’t convenient. Also there were my close friends from Bryn Mawr and David Begelman, later to commit suicide.
side of the aisle and lawsuit they were.
It was not a huge cast, but it WAS colorful. Sue Mengers, later to become a major Showbiz Celeb, was among those present, being at the time a close friend which she could be until it wasn’t convenient. Also there were my close friends from Bryn Mawr and David Begelman, later to commit suicide.
My mother and my father sat on different sides of the aisle, along with their newer, present partners, and my father-in-law Harry who’d gotten us the champagne wholesale.
I have been told often in life, at least the earlier part of it, of my penchant for
comedy. The truth is I never have to make anything up. What I am handed in life,
or have always been proffered, is plot, my weakest suit.
comedy. The truth is I never have to make anything up. What I am handed in life,
or have always been proffered, is plot, my weakest suit.
