Although the Federal Government picked up half of my tuition I still had to come up with the other half. My parents didn’t have the money and even with student loans I had to work several jobs in addition to going to school.
My favorite job was Wedding Photographer. I started working in the darkroom of a studio and was eventually trained as a wedding photographer. I really liked this job and worked only on Friday nights and Sundays. I hardly ever worked on a Saturday.
After a while I got to know all of the caterers in Brooklyn as well as all of the bands that performed at weddings. I would always make a mental note of which catering hall was going to have a prime rib buffet wedding reception on a Saturday night and what band was playing for that wedding. As the weddings were booked well in advance I could easily plan my schedule.
Getting a date was never too easy for me but I could usually get a date with a girl from our sister sorority the DEBS (Delta Epsilon Beta Sigma) but we used to call them “I Spread A Thigh” for short.
I told my date what time I would pick her up and to please dress formal because we were going to dinner and dancing. This usually impressed them very much as most guys would suggest McDonalds and a Movie. These women really thought I had class!
I would show up on time to pick them up in my Father’s 1969 Chevy Impala. I would be wearing a suit, white shirt, tie, and my black shoes would be highly polished. I’d open the passenger side door and then we were officially on our date.
As I was driving to the catering hall I provided my date with some instructions. Just a couple of things to remember…. 1. if somebody asks you what side of the family you’re from, find out what side of the family they represent and YOU are from the other side. 2. if your “cover” is blown look surprised and say Oh My God, (laughing) I’m at the WRONG Buffet Reception!
At the end of the evening I would drive my date to her home where they usually called me a cheap bastard and said they never wanted to see me again.
I don’t understand it. Prime rib dinner, dancing to the finest bands in Brooklyn. So what if it didn’t cost me anything. It sure beat going to McDonalds and a cheap movie. Oh and another thing… I also told them upfront that they didn’t need to chip in for gas for the car either!