Wedding Day

Can anyone understand the feeling we had travelling 25,000 miles, round-trip, twice from Taiwan to Pittsburgh, to see two of my  daughters  married within  two years?         No.    

Renna Rose is the name I gave her on that April morning 1988 in Taipei, Taiwan. That April morning, and now this October evening. She looked so beautiful in her white gown; Alex handsome in his suit. I was breathless! 

      Renna's wedding was low key but touching and heartfelt. . Their self-written vows to each other were precious. The speeches from Alex's three best men, and even Simone's speech about Renna, were quiet and tasteful with memories. 

        None present, save the photographer, took photos during the ceremony; we were asked not to. After the ceremony, Alex and Renna danced, then Alex danced with Heather, and Renna danced with me. My little into to "Rambling Rose" before the father-daughter dance was well-received. I recalled how, as a little girl, Renna would dance with me in the living room, holding hands, standing on my feet, to silly lyrics I made up for the Nat King Cole hit. The song became: "Renna Rose, has no toes, she has a nose, and it glows," etc.  Explaining why I had given her the name and what the song meant to us made guests chuckle at the vague connections. 

      The atmosphere at the wedding reception felt like  at a small art gallery, which the venue in fact was. Leona and I were seated at a table with her best friend, Anim, who came late with her husband and mother from New York, and Aunt Renee with Robin. Aside from standing to get dinner at the buffet counter, I spent most of the time in my seat chatting with them and Leona or standing to met  a few guests, perhaps talking too long because I didn't have time to dance; Leona got up and danced with Renna though. 

    Cousin Robin's children- Jessica and Daniel- and our three- Amanda, Ariel with Alice, and Simone with Ted- were seated at other tables as was my sister and her husband; I hardly spoke with any of them but I saw them speaking with each other.  

                  The most heartfelt part of the evening was seeing and dancing with Renee, the last of my father's seven siblings. I couldn't believe that cousin Robin had brought her all the way from San Diego to attend. She is 89 and I am afraid we will not have a chance to meet again, but there she was looking well. 

                                                    By eleven 

o'clock, the party was winding down.

I packed up some cookies and cupcakes to bring back to the airbnb and said good night to folk. It was a wonderful ceremony and reception but there was still one thing I wanted to do before we left. It is so rare, now that the children have grown and are living in three cities, and two countries, far apart: a family photo of us six.

     For what seemed like an hour, I tried to get everyone together for a photo but just when it looked like a done deal, someone walked away to say goodbye to someone and we had to reconvene all over again. Finally, we got it down.

     Renna is very lucky meeting and marrying such a fine man as Alex. They see eye to eye on many issues and can confide in each other. As a father, it is nice to know that your children are being loved by someone close at hand, especially now that we live so far apart. The internet can do just so much.

                        Renna's intimate indoor wedding ceremony and rehearsal was quite different from Simone and Ted's large outdoor shindig last year or Ariel and Alice's private ceremony in Shanghai a few years ago. Three of my children got the partner they asked for, and Amanda has her own lucky stars waiting for her.

     Though life is hard, it is easier spending it with someone who you love and who loves you back. I love my children so much and I love Leona for being there and raising them with me. With Simone's first child on the way, a next generation is going to greet the world and make it a better place to live, as my four children have in their service to the community as lawyer, teacher, environmentalist, and in health care provision. G-d bless Renna and Alex as they start their married life together. With consideration for each other's happiness as they pursue their own dreams, they will discover what life is all about. Mazel tov! 
Renna & Alex's Wedding Dance Video