16 June 2005
So, yesterday, Warren and Frank got `married' after nineteen years. John Wilson came over from Glasgow, and he and I were Warren's witnesses while Frank had Herman and his wife as his. We met at the shop and then walked the short distance to the Stadhuis (City Hall). Warren and Frank had chosen the unconventional room with lop-sided sofa and an eclectric mix of chairs and other decorations. It was all terribly civilised but also relaxed and low key. When the notary pronounced Warren and Frank legally united, she then dramatically pushed down on a button in the middle of the desk. Warren thought that it was a Sweeney Todd moment and that the floor was going to open suddenly beneath them and that they would disappear down some shoot. Frank had known about this but had not let anyone else into the secret. It was indeed hysterically funny because it was then impossible not to get that image out of the head.
Instead, however, the dias on which the notary was seated slowly began to revolve so that the couple could be seen by the audience. The only difficulty here was that there was no audience besides the witnesses, and we were all on the dias turning as well. Well, there was Frank's sister, Richard and David who had `crashed' the ceremony. But all was duly signed and witnessed, and the button was pushed several times just for the ride.
Outside, while waiting for the boat that W & F had arranged, we were approached by two meisjes in costumes who were doing a photo project of brides. Warren explained that there was no bride but just two grooms. The meisjes wanted to record us anyway. Unfortunately, their camera did not get the pictures and then would not work when we all tried a second time and we had to then leave as the taxi boat had arrived to take us to Reguliersgracht 33.
This last was extraordinarily beautiful. The boys had paid for a half hour, so we circled lazily through the canals and did not take a direct route home. The weather was a rare Dutch moment of exquisite summer.
Warren and Frank had also arranged that the whole reception be catered. Liotte, an Israeli student who works part-time for their bookstore, along with a friend spent the day in our kitchen preparing hors-d'oeuvres and then served them during the reception that was to be from 17:00 to 20:00 but went on until midnight instead. She/they also left the kitchen immaculate – even washing the floor. This was Liotte's wedding gift. Everything was delicious.
During the party, two friends of mine (Bron and Beth Taylor) arrived along with their two daughters for a three-day stay. In all, we must have been between forty and fifty people. Everyone said it was like old times in the house. It was all great fun – with plenty of wines and champagne, etc. Warren had been so cute all day – being so excited and happy. He was particularly thrilled when Nick Schors had phoned him in the morning to say he would be coming. There was also nocturnal Jim Clark for whom the party coincided exactly with his breakfast time. In addition, Victor Waterman and his partner were here – Victor being as entertaining but otherwise little different than as in earlier days.
And, so, Frank and Warren were married. The house loved it, and it was all like old times.