TWO AUSSIES, A HILLBILLY, A CITY GIRL, COUNTRY DANCING, NIAGARA FALLS & A WEDDING
As country dancing grew in the world so did friendships. The blending of cultures throughout country dance just got better.
The last few years I’ve been blessed to get to travel and spread the word of “Fun” country social line dancing. While visiting Australia I got to visit with and work with two Aussies named Jean and Warren.
We had a lot of fun and spent many days together traveling up and down the east coast of Australia. The country and the people are the best, one of the friendliest places I’ve ever been. Jean and Warren had decided to get married (they, too, met through country dancing in Australia) and wanted an unusual place to do so. I suggested Niagara Falls.
They planned their trip to the US for May, 1997. They landed in San Francisco and visited with Charlotte Skeeters and Neal (or is it Neil) Hale, two well known and respected choreographers in the San Francisco Bay Area. They got back on a plane and landed in Buffalo, NY on a Wednesday night. I drove up to meet them.
Thursday we got serious and went to Buffalo City Hall to get the marriage license. Well this is where the Hillbilly fun begins. First we had to find city hall, then find a place to park a blazer with a trailer attached. The city hall building was really tall. As we looked up the marriage license room # we were astounded and started laughing.. I remarked, “whoever designed this building has a hillbilly sense of humor!” The marriage license branch was on the 13th floor! Not believing this we get in to the elevator, yep there was a 13th floor. When we arrived to the 13th floor, we found the marriage license door next to the “dog license” door. Later we found we had to go in the dog license door because that was where the cashier was.
Filling out the application! Kelly, the office girl, bless her heart is looking for a guy. She has dark hair, is good looking and has a great sense of humor. If you’re in your mid to late thirties, look her up.
It took a joint conference with Kelly, her boss and the computer man to figure out how to input their applications without social security #’s. Dates are written in a different order in Australia. City, zip codes, everything was a hoot to figure out. Spying a long line building outside of anxious couples awaiting their chance for a license, I went out and passed out the #’s. Then I played marriage counselor and asked each couple a series of questions and if they were sure they still wanted to get married. They all passed my test and finally Warren paid for the license in the dog room. We invited Kelly to come visit in Australia and we headed out for Niagara Falls.
In Niagara Falls we quickly found a minister, a limo, and a wedding date for Monday, Memorial DAY. After a fun filled 3 days of “Country Dancin’ In The Park” in Kitchener, Ontario with “Rockin’D” Instructors Marilee & Mike, we headed back to Niagara Falls. We were to be at the chapel no later than 2 pm.
I assured Jean that if we left Kitchener by 9 am we would have plenty of time to make it to the chapel on time. My faith was really tested when we set in traffic at the border for several hours trying to cross into the U. S. My sense of smell and keeping a clear head was also tested by Jean cleaning and redoing her nails while we set in traffic. A Hillbilly could get high off that stuff, shooeee! It all came down to the customs official, would he hassle us or let us go through? He took one look at the group saw the different countries, shook his head and let us through! YEEhaaaa! We made it to the chapel on time. It was exactly 2 pm when I drove up to the door. Of course I offered to go park my Blazer by myself.
After signing all the documents we headed for the Falls to say the “I DO”S!” A BIG LIMO ride, lots of invites to visitors that I met on the walk to the Falls & we were ready for the ceremony.
On a island with the Falls in the background Jean & Warren made their life long commitments to each other. It was a dream come true for them and a pleasure for Maureen and myself to be with them.
Of course we didn’t stop here! A ride on the Maid Of the Mist into the Falls was next! A clue if you ever go don’t listen to a Hillbilly if he says hurry up and ride on the bow (that’s front for those who don’t boat) of the boat. When we got under the Falls it was kind of like a huge rain storm, hurricane and 10,000 fire hoses all aimed at you at the same time. It did wonders for the lady’s hair.
If you ever visit Australia and need a place to stay Jean and Warren O’Leary said you all are invited, there is plenty of room.
Yeeehaaaa & Cooeeee!
If’n you ever need help you contact me at my new web page www.hillbillyrick.com!
