Christine Law

I’ve known Christine Law since the mid 90s when I worked at KXBS, 96.7 The Bus radio station and she was in the local band Tantrum that we added to our playlist. She stood out because not only was she adorable and had such an easy smile, but she was a female bass player in this heavy rock band.  She rocked that bass!  I was very impressed.

But it was just the last year or so that we started to actually hang out due to the music scene here in Ventura.  She had started up Afirm Records a number of years ago and I started a website called VenturaRocks.com four years ago which supports the music scene here in town. We really do have a lot of common interests, so it’s such a treat when I would get to hang out together.  She attended a “Girls Dress Night Out” as well as Staci Brown’s birthday celebration and I made sure I supported her husband Charles’ band, Charles Law and Jagged, when he played at The Tavern and again at Amigos.

Just a couple of weeks ago I received a special invitation via Facebook from Christine simply entitled: Girls Nite – Dinner at Christine Law’s served by Ventura Firemen!  She said she won a dinner for 8 served by Ventura County Firemen at her house.  But the truth is, she bid on the package which was a fundraiser for the Boys and Girls club.  She’s very much involved in improving conditions in her community and participates in many civic engagement projects.

I have to admit, I was a little giddy about being included for this exclusive gathering of friends.  As it turns out, the women she invited were extraordinary women, more than half I already knew and call my friends and the others I thoroughly enjoyed meeting and hope to see again soon.

Christine and Charles live up above Santa Paula, in the upper Ojai rugged terrain on a ranch style house with horses up against the hills over looking wilderness.  What a beautiful piece of land.  We arrived to find the firetruck parked in her driveway along with the Battalion Chief’s truck next to where the half dozen or so firemen were busy preparing a barbecue dinner for us women.  I didn’t even try to attempt to wipe the smile off my face.

Charles was in charge of the beverages because the rules state our firemen could not drink. Actually, if memory serves, I was informed when we went to have our photo ops that there were two rules for these beautiful heroes, no alcohol, and no nudity.  Again, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face just conjuring up some new images in my mind.

So we had our photos taken after playing on the truck for a while, and the guys were more than gracious and patient about it.  After our group shot and the women were starting to disperse, I half-jokingly mention to the chief that it would be really cool to have a picture with just me and the guys.  He said, “Are you kidding?  Of course!!”  And immediately he rounded up the boys and BAM!  It was a done deal.

We then left the men to go munch on h’orderves which consisted of different cheeses, crackers, bread, dips and fruits, we had plenty of wine, beers and shots of Patron, as we engaged in good conversations enjoying our beautiful surroundings.  Just so you know, while the firemen provided the makings for dinner, we provided the snacks, beverages and dessert. Before we knew it, dinner was ready to be served.  Some of us half expected spaghetti, but our firemen were graciously serving up tri-tip, chicken, veggie kabobs, grilled zucchini and corn on the cob with salad and more fresh fruit and they never allowed us to lift a finger. They served us and treated us like queens.

Our guys cleared the table for us and one of Christine’s guests, Melissa, brought out a bottle of Limoncello, offering up shots to cleanse the palate.  Delicious.  Before long we had our dessert of two types of chocolate cake, I opted for the German chocolate, and I was stuffed…still smiling.

At one point we asked if our firemen were volunteering their time, and we learned that our heros, which included two Battalion Chiefs, were on the clock and always on standby.  If a fire broke out, we were on our own.  Luck was with us as we only lost one fireman who had to respond to a TC (traffic collision).  It was just amazing. They were all true gentlemen.  They served us and took care of us, did not allow us to help clear the table, and when I saw one pass by with an apron wrapped around his waist, I had to follow and what I found brought tears to my eyes:  several of our guys were washing the dishes in uniform. Could there be anything sexier?

Before long it was time to say goodby and give thanks to our firemen for doing this to help raise funds for the Boys & Girls Club.  It was an event I won’t ever forget.

We hung out several hours longer as Christine and Charles opened up their home to us and we talked about my favorite subject of music as we collaborated on how to make the music scene in our town even better.

Before long it was time to say our thanks and goodbyes and with five of us in one car ready to head home I still couldn’t help but smile remembering being treated like a queen for the day and all because Christine Law considers me one of her friends.

Christine, I’m honored.  Thank you!

Looking forward to meeting up on the basketball court one of these days!