KAREN’S THANKS: WEEK-END WEDDING THANKS

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WEEK-END WEDDING THANKS

Don’t get excited—it was not my wedding this past week-end! I was just a guest at one.

A pretty place setting at the wedding dinner. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one above.

A pretty place setting at the wedding dinner. Photo by Karen Salkin, as is the one above.

In the past, pals have asked me to review their weddings, parties, and events. (As a matter of fact, just the other day, one friend mentioned the time I “reviewed” her wedding on my former TV show, which she and her husband asked me to do because they wanted to show it to their future children.) And I’m always happy to do so; I love that they’ll have my thoughts preserved for posterity.

But this time, it was not discussed, so for now, at least, (because I believe in people’s privacy,) I’m keeping my opinions, though all good ones, to myself. (Well, I’ll share them with my pals, of course, but not with the public. Yet.) But the week-end was all really wonderful, and I’m thrilled for everyone involved.

The only problem for me was that the festivities were out of town, in Solvang and surrounding areas, so it was a big deal to go to it. Mr. X was injured and therefore could not accompany me, (although, how often has he gone anyplace with me when he’s healthy?,) so I was totally on my own.

The highway from Los Angeles to Solvang. Photo by Karen Salkin.

The highway from Los Angeles to Solvang. Photo by Karen Salkin.

And, as you may have figured if you’ve ever read this e-zine before, I never go anywhere alone, let alone to an occasion of this magnitude! I could not have ever envisioned myself attending any wedding by my lonesome, let alone a three-day out-of-town affair! And I sold my car during the pandemic, with no time to buy a new one yet, so even physically getting there was a big problem. Even if I did have my own wheels, I’ve rarely driven that far by myself, and definitely not for almost a decade, during which I’ve become a wimp!

Karen Salkin with her new bestie, Rod Bastanmehr, before the actual wedding began, modeling the thoughtful little paper parasols that were given out because some of us sat in the sun there. Photo by Harry Calianes.

Karen Salkin with her new bestie, Rod Bastanmehr, before the actual wedding began, modeling the thoughtful little paper parasols that were given out because some of us sat in the sun there. Photo by Harry Calianes.

It turned-out that many of the guests drove there from my area of Los Angeles, but the bride did not have time to coordinate it for me, which I totally understand. She did try to figure-out a train to Solvang for me, and coordinated that little trip with a friend of hers, but it turned-out to be not just a train, but two of them, then a bus, (which allows only carry-ons, and drops you in a park,) and then a taxi to your hotel. Whew. So that would have been a hassle and a half.

But I so wanted to witness the happiness of the bride, whom I have known for decades, since she was a little girl, so I decided to throw on my big girl panties, and get there any way I could. And, as usual for me, Mr. X came to the rescue big-time, and lent me his car. So off I went.

But I could not have done that without the help of a village. Seriously. Despite all my crazy travels and shenanigans back in the day, (like hitchhiking around the country by myself and joining a circus!,) I like everything to be easy, comfortable, and convenient now. And safe!

So I just want to thank everyone who helped me get there, or throughout the week-end, in one way or other. Some tried to find me accommodations or a car rental or had other suggestions, some assisted me while there, and others just leant moral support from the get-go until I got home. My friend Sheila even stayed on the phone with me for my entire drive to one of the vineyard venues, where I was the only car on the Twins Peaks-ian road, and scared out of my wits!

The famous Pea Soup Anderson's eatery also has an Inn!!!  Who knew?! (Well, now YOU all do!)  Photo by Karen Salkin.

The famous Pea Soup Anderson’s eatery also has an Inn!!! Who knew?! (Well, now YOU all do!) Photo by Karen Salkin.

So my major and genuinely heartfelt thanks go to:

Manny Greitzer, the father of the bride, (which I can’t believe I forgot to say to him in my best Cathy Moriarty voice from Raging Bull!!!,) who is also my optometrist in Greenwich, Connecticut, so he was kind enough to bring me some eye supplies.

Mallory Blair, (now Crichton,) the bride herself, who, in the middle of her busy pre-wedding sked, helped me figure-out how to get there.

Lyndsey Green, of First in Service Travel, my travel agent extraordinaire, (and friend, who nixed some of the places I suggested because she knows that kind of thing better than any of us!)

Marilyn Anderson, (who knows how to get the best deals everywhere,) for doing tons of research to help me find the smartest deals on cars and accommodations.

Shirley Greitzer, Lucia Singer, Libby Slate, and Jodi Jackson, who also offered suggestions on the best places to stay.

Sheila Tracy and Jeanine Anderson, for all the phone support.

Rod Bastanmehr, for offering to help me navigate all the travel, and although we wound-up not going together, made me feel welcome there from the start.

Dominique and Yves Mamou, mes amies nouveau de Paris, who always made me feel comfortable and never alone all week-end.

Deon and Cameron, the two coolest guys ever, for showing up at exactly the right time, and accompanying me to my room in the dark late at night, and seeming totally happy to do so! (And for letting me hug their very muscle-y bodies many times before the week-end was over!)

Harry Calianes, who wound-up shuttling over to, and sitting with me at, the actual nuptials portion of the week-end, because his beautiful girlfriend, Emily Brooke, was part of the wedding.

And especially to my friend, Em herself, for sharing Harry to begin with! I would have been so lonely there without him!

Adam Figman, who sat on my other side for the ceremony, (because his girlfriend was one of the two bride’s attendants,) for talking sports with me the whole time before it all began

Absolutely everyone at Pea Soup Anderson’s Inn, who did everything from carrying my bags when that wasn’t their job, to giving me directions many a time, to running a lovely inn that looks exactly like its pictures and wound-up being the absolute best deal in town!

Marc Winer, Judy Rothman, and Ben Clopot who encouraged me to go to begin with, when I was thinking it was way too much of a hassle.

Jacquelin Tevis, the adorable Events Coordinator at Hotel Ynez, (where the farewell brunch was on Sunday,) who helped me stay awake enough to get back to LA by coming to my rescue with a huge (and delicious) chocolate bar when I told her I was worried to drive home because I don’t drink coffee, and needed some other form of caffeine!

And, of course, Mr. X, without whom none of it would have been possible, especially because he insisted on lending me his car, leaving himself to have no transportation all week-end, should the need arise! What a guy!

Karen Salkin closing out the week-end with the beautiful Greitzer fam during the farewell brunch at Hotel Ynez. (L-R) Emily Brooke, Mallory Blair, Manny Greitzer, and Karen Salkin. Photo by Harry Calianes.

Karen Salkin closing out the week-end with the beautiful Greitzer fam during the farewell brunch at Hotel Ynez. (L-R) Emily Brooke, Mallory Blair, Manny Greitzer, and Karen Salkin. Photo by Harry Calianes.

And what a lucky girl I am to have so many people in my corner! I thank them all from the bottom of my heart.

And perhaps I’ll get around to doing the actual review of all the week-end proceedings some time down the road. Just not the dark, scary one!

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2 Comments

  1. This is a beautiful story. You’re always so appreciative. I wish everyone would emulate you, especially people who were at MY wedding.

  2. Hi Karen. I hope you know that you’re a blessed woman to have so many people in your life. I watched your TV show for years and always thought how popular you must be, so this makes sense.

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