I refuse to complain about how tired I am. I could already be in bed if I really wanted to be, but instead, I chose to upload and edit the pictures from this past weekend and then tell you all about it. It was a fabulous weekend...but an exhausting one, as well.
Husband Tom and I headed for my parents' house late Friday evening. We had a wedding to attend Saturday night, and we wanted to get some family visiting time in while we were there. I fell asleep before we were out of Austin. I was already running on empty, I guess.
We had nothing to do Saturday except hang around and soak up time with my parents. My sister Brenda came by for a visit to show off her "new" Lexus - a great e-Bay deal. I put first dibs on it, if they ever decide to part with it.
Daddy and I took a walk around the block. Some of the old houses are just crumbling, neglected, fading away, but others have been cared for and fixed up...looking as bright and welcoming as they did when I rode my banana-seat bicycle up and down those streets forty years ago.
We had almost made it back to the house when Daddy's neighbor Jack caught up to us. He had been out walking his furry little dog. We talked for awhile - I learned all about his vintage car that's out for repair, his divorce and new marriage. He slipped me a business card and told me to call anytime I was worried about Mama and Daddy. He's a handyman and recently spruced up the tool shed Tom and Daddy built in the backyard twenty-three years ago, when Tommy was a baby. He promised he wouldn't rip off my parents and if it was something small, he'd do it for free.
While we were talking to Jack, Hugo rolled across the street in his wheelchair. I had never officially met Hugo until then, but I already knew who he was; Mama and Daddy spoke of him quite a bit. He's a paraplegic and I'm sure he reminds them of my brother, Buster. My parents are probably more attuned to men in wheelchairs than most people. Hugo is often sitting in his yard when we pass by; Jack told me if you want to know anything about what's happening in the neighborhood, ask Hugo. He doesn't miss a thing.
In fact, Hugo let us know about a neighbor's wife's recent death. The son and I were good friends...when our ages were in the single digits. I wonder where he is now. I wish I could tell him I'm sorry about his mom's death.
Daddy and I finally made our way back to the house and I dressed for the wedding. A co-worker of mine from the DuPont Days, Ky Tien, has seven sons. Saturday night the youngest son, Patrick, got married. Well, technically, he and Melissa got married the night before...and then Saturday morning went through a tea ceremony at Ky's house...and now they were having the final traditional reception for the Asian community.
Tom and I had been to two other son's weddings - the first, William's, was twenty years ago, and the second, Phillip's, was just three years ago near Austin. Saturday night we sat at the same table as these sons and their families, so we had plenty to talk about. Ky is a very considerate host.
He's smart, too...he expected us to bring at least one of our University of Texas students. His oldest granddaughter (sitting at our table) is 18 now, a senior in high school, wanting to attend the University of Texas in the fall. Coincidence? I think not.
But our kids couldn't afford the time away - they needed to study, and we weren't going to argue with that. But I hate that they missed this experience...a multi-course Asian meal (Ky is Chinese and his wife is Vietnamese...I'm not sure which culture the food fell under, but it was delicious!)...the bride and groom decked out in their traditional gowns, making their way around to each table for a toast...the Asian karaoke, including "God" singing "Unchained Melody" for the first dance.
I hope there's another opportunity some day for them to meet Ky, one of the most interesting men I worked with at the plant (and that's saying a lot!) I loved listening to his stories of life in China, life in Viet Nam, life in France. Always running from the Communists. I wondered, as I sat at the table with his sons and grandchildren...do they know him as I do? Do they know all of these stories, all of his adventures? Do they realize how smart he is and appreciate the sacrifices he made?
I guess that could be asked of all of us about our own parents, though, couldn't it?
Saturday night was Seaweed-Wrapped Shrimp Pasta, Fried Rice, Steamed Fish and Peking Duck...Sunday was Kentucky Fried Chicken, thanks to my sister Brenda and her husband Ralph. Along with my brother Donnie and his daughter Christin, we all sat around the table, eating and laughing before Tom and I finally headed back home early in the afternoon; I had a deadline to meet, one I was grateful for, but I still wish we didn't have to rush back home.
We had been so worn out from the past few weekends, we almost decided not to go to the wedding, but we're both glad we did, even though I ended up having to get up at 3 am this morning to finish my assignment. Some opportunities only come around once - you have to jump on them before they're lost forever.
Scenes from Saturday night...me and the Chinese lion outside of Kim Son Ballroom (we had some time to kill)...me and Ky Tien...Patrick and Melissa in the traditional robes...one of the millions of courses we ate that night...Ky dancing with his granddaughter...