Five years ago today, Captain Joe Dempsey -- whom I've known since St. Augustine's School -- ferried Joe Landry and I down the river in his Water Taxi to the Hot Club, where we were married by Superior Court Justice Patricia Hurst, my attorney in a child custody suit in 1984. That child was my maid of honor, her 6-year-old son the ring bearer.

It had rained for days, and would the following days, but this one wedding day was sunny, pleasant and perfect.

The music floating out over the water came from Mark Taber, a Providence original, playing solo keyboard on the sunny deck as he had at Leo's for so many years.

We looked out at a gathering of happy faces, people who had been part of something that got us to here; for once, we knew almost everyone in the crowd.

Wes' Rib House catered. Two bands played. The head bartender asked how I wanted my drinks, weak or strong. "Very weak," I said. "I gotta last."

Around sunset, a club manager asked if we wanted to keep the party private or let in customers.

"Open it up, let 'em in," we said.

I'm still running into people who say, "You don't know me, but I was at your wedding!"

Joe and I are still having a great time.