SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA — So far so good, through God’s grace.
Our trip to America that began on Oct. 12 all started with an announcement of a niece’s wedding. Then it was followed by a wish, and then a text from my sister Dedita, mother of the bride, “How about coming for Jess & Nick’s wedding?”
After several months of planning, my husband Lionel and I found ourselves landing at the Los Angeles airport into the waiting arms of our daughter, Lili Marlene.
Thank God, we had a safe and joyful trip. To ease the tension of the 13-hour flight, we found ourselves laughing instead of worrying if something did not turn out right.
So far, we have spent three pleasant weeks bonding with our families and friends, and we have gone to many places like the Hearst Castle, Griffith Observatory, the famous crookedest street in the world, walked the length of the Hollywood boulevard, and watched an NBA game at the Staples Center.
The live NBA game was a dream-come-true for my husband who has been an ardent fan of the NBA since our children were small.
The wedding day finally came — we traveled by car for eight hours starting at midnight from Thousand Oaks to San Francisco.
It was a beautiful modern wedding ceremony, set in a function room of a Marine hotel, with the couple’s family and friends in attendance. The ceremony, music, flowers, and dancing were all fantastic.
Dedita remained dry-eyed all throughout as her daughter reminded her if she turned sentimental: “Mom, don’t cry! Remember the cost of your makeup!”
I was asked to say a prayer for the newlyweds, and say grace before meals. I was reminded to keep it short — which I did, but I almost got derailed when I heard chuckles from the guests when I prayed “…May you grant them healthy and beautiful children, Lord.”
I thought, maybe people in America don’t include this kind of wish in their prayers.
After the wedding, we traveled with my sister to San Jose here. There are now eight of us in her three-bedroom house (two nieces are also visiting), and the rest are living with her together with a black cat, named Rocky, and a Shitsu named Bella.
More adventures await us as we plan our trip to Washington, DC where the newlyweds will host us. As the saying goes, abangan ang susunod!
Nenita Parreno-Tayko
Bantayan, Dumaguete City
