Recently I attended a Sunday summer wedding in the hills of Maryland, about 50 minutes from the nation's capitol. The wedding began at noon.

It was up a twisting gladed road, on top of a mountain. The setting was in an old mansion with fountains, flowers and fine folks from all over the United States. The bride, Nancy, was from Newport News, VA and the groom, Gary, an Air Force Major in the Judge Advocate General Corps, was raised in Plainview.

Many of the people came from the great state of New York: Westchester, Nassau and Queens Counties.

The sun shone gloriously as the people gathered around the bar and partook generously of the many and varied hors d'oeuvres. The conversation flowed easily as the guests mingled and became familiar with one another. It is easily discernible when wedding guests like and enjoy the people who have invited them.

Stu and Sherry Kumm, the groom's parents, are the best! THey are truly luvable. They have traveled everywhere (even Iceland) and are very culturally inclined to museums, Gilbert and Sullivan and any intellectual pursuit that is worthwhile.

As we proceeded to the actual wedding location I noticed an odd phenomenon. Every New Yorker was looking anxiously at his watch. Questions about the New Jersey Turnpike began to surface among the men. The trip back to New York was consuming their attention. The intervals between checking the time were getting shorter and shorter. Tensions were beginning to mount.

One rather harried and fidgeting New Yorker asked me this strange question: "Is there a shortcut from here to New York?" I am sure he was seriously thinking that I knew a secret passage from this Maryland mountain direct to the Holland Tunnel.

Alas, I told him the truth: Six to eight hours on the Beltway to JFK Highway to the dreaded Jersey turnpike to New York. No shortcuts.

Fortunately, Lorraine and I had come via the Delta shuttle. If not, I would be one of those New York clock watchers, panicking before the long car trip. I am always a "nervous wreck" before a long drive.

Taking the plane was the only shortcut I could think of.

The wedding, the food, the setting, the bride and groom, the Kumms were all fabulous. I am positive even the clock watchers enjoyed themselves.