Monday
Mar262007
El Weekende de Cason y Katie
Monday, March 26, 2007 at 01:24AM
One of my dearest friends, Cason, got married this weekend. It was way too big of a time to do a play-by-play, but here were a few highlights...
- After quite a long round of toasts during the Rehearsal dinner Cason got up and spoke for a few short minutes about the people in the room, love, Katie and a few other things. Some of what he said was truly amazing. I realized it was the first time I'd ever seen him formally speak in front of a crowd.
Cason's a talker, and a good one at that, but for the last ten years he's sat next to me on stage while I've talked, or Jeremy or Derek or Mat or whoever. If I'm ever accused of saying interesting or meaningful things, a huge part of those thoughts would come from conversations with Cason, and I know that's the case with all those other guys as well. It was a cool moment to see and hear him so eloquently and powerfully speak himself.
- An odd variation on the band that used to be The Normals tends to show up at the receptions of certain weddings and they (we) were there in full force last night. We call ourselves The Prenuptial Agreement. In no real order the band was: B.J. Aberle on bass, Mike Taquino on drums, Randall Goodgame on keyboards, Mark Lockett and myself on guitars, Matthew Perryman Jones, Billy Cerveny and I all singing. During "Play that Funky Music, White Boy" B.J. led us in a little breakdown where we sang the chorus of Cason's lone Normals tune, titled "King". Oh, and Matthew and I sang Bruce Cockburn's "Southland of the Heart" as the first dance.
- Kevin Twit was the officiating pastor. He walked in shortly before the ceremony and realized that he had "married" seven of nine groomsmen, Alison and me included. Standing there listening to him preach what I've heard so many times, I still found myself saying "huh" under my breath and hoping that I'd remember the wisdom and truth had just said later on.
- Katie is an event planner, and a good one. I'm a picky eater. I'm always scared when I'm hungry and I go to a formal event that dinner will be long on titles and short on actual food. Not the case. The food was fancy and cool-looking. It was also amazing and were it not for the booty-shaking of the Prenuptial Agreement I would have gained ten pounds this weekend.
- We got to spend good time with so many old friends. And so many of their new children. What a huge blessing to see friends grow older and watch families almost literally springing up in front of your eyes.
- It was great to have all five Normals together for a few brief moments. Talks of an EP surfaced again and I've already got a verse and a chorus written this morning in effort to actually make it happen.
- Jeremy Casella and I were co-best men. Four and a half years ago Cason and Mark Lockett were the same for me. I got to stand there right beside my brother Jeremy as the beautiful harmonies of Derek and Sandra sweetly singing welcomed Cason's bride down the aisle to meet him.
Overall it was just a wonderful time. We are so happy for Cason and Katie. We were so grateful for the moments we got to share with dear friends. I wish every day could be spent in the company and celebration of love and friendship and family. Soon every day will be spent like that. That's what weddings hint at after all, isn't it?
- After quite a long round of toasts during the Rehearsal dinner Cason got up and spoke for a few short minutes about the people in the room, love, Katie and a few other things. Some of what he said was truly amazing. I realized it was the first time I'd ever seen him formally speak in front of a crowd.
Cason's a talker, and a good one at that, but for the last ten years he's sat next to me on stage while I've talked, or Jeremy or Derek or Mat or whoever. If I'm ever accused of saying interesting or meaningful things, a huge part of those thoughts would come from conversations with Cason, and I know that's the case with all those other guys as well. It was a cool moment to see and hear him so eloquently and powerfully speak himself.
- An odd variation on the band that used to be The Normals tends to show up at the receptions of certain weddings and they (we) were there in full force last night. We call ourselves The Prenuptial Agreement. In no real order the band was: B.J. Aberle on bass, Mike Taquino on drums, Randall Goodgame on keyboards, Mark Lockett and myself on guitars, Matthew Perryman Jones, Billy Cerveny and I all singing. During "Play that Funky Music, White Boy" B.J. led us in a little breakdown where we sang the chorus of Cason's lone Normals tune, titled "King". Oh, and Matthew and I sang Bruce Cockburn's "Southland of the Heart" as the first dance.
- Kevin Twit was the officiating pastor. He walked in shortly before the ceremony and realized that he had "married" seven of nine groomsmen, Alison and me included. Standing there listening to him preach what I've heard so many times, I still found myself saying "huh" under my breath and hoping that I'd remember the wisdom and truth had just said later on.
- Katie is an event planner, and a good one. I'm a picky eater. I'm always scared when I'm hungry and I go to a formal event that dinner will be long on titles and short on actual food. Not the case. The food was fancy and cool-looking. It was also amazing and were it not for the booty-shaking of the Prenuptial Agreement I would have gained ten pounds this weekend.
- We got to spend good time with so many old friends. And so many of their new children. What a huge blessing to see friends grow older and watch families almost literally springing up in front of your eyes.
- It was great to have all five Normals together for a few brief moments. Talks of an EP surfaced again and I've already got a verse and a chorus written this morning in effort to actually make it happen.
- Jeremy Casella and I were co-best men. Four and a half years ago Cason and Mark Lockett were the same for me. I got to stand there right beside my brother Jeremy as the beautiful harmonies of Derek and Sandra sweetly singing welcomed Cason's bride down the aisle to meet him.
Overall it was just a wonderful time. We are so happy for Cason and Katie. We were so grateful for the moments we got to share with dear friends. I wish every day could be spent in the company and celebration of love and friendship and family. Soon every day will be spent like that. That's what weddings hint at after all, isn't it?
Reader Comments (8)
Dude... you are so right. I really love the last paragraph. I appreciate it.
And by the way, the Prenuptial Agreement still makes me laugh. It makes me wish I had a band called Stove Tongue or something...
Normals EP!!! Normals EP!!!! Normals EP!!!! Normals EP!!!!
*taking notes* getting married in June. What did she walk down the aisle to?
That's what every day will be like soon... wow. I love weddings and I think I know why now. Freinds, love, food, happiness. I love this blog for moments like that when, out of the blue, I get the lump in the throat and a new way of looking at things hits me.
sounds like a great weekend...
Normals EP....that is the most exciting music news I've heard in some time...
you know you can't just tease us with stuff like that.
A Normals EP, eh? I would definitely buy it.
Does this mean that Cason won't be playing at the Mat Kearney show in Minneapolis on Wednesday? That'd be a shame.
The Normals reunion for an EP? I would definitely buy it. I am so jealous of weddings like that that are essentially fun concerts that I would pay money to go to but you guys all get to hang out and make fun music and it isnt a concert you are paying money to go to but a good old fashioned shin dig with friends.
Wowsers! I agree with Jason. This was a really enjoyable blog all the way through but that last line put a lump in my throat and gave me a happy chill. Thanks for sharing Andy! Oh and to quote another astute person: Normals Ep!! Normals Ep!! Normals Ep!!Normals Ep!! Normals Ep!! Normals Ep!! (: I also agree with Chris Rule and he said it better than I could so props to all you cool clever Andy-Landers as well! Y'all rock!
In Christ,
Tom