April 19, 2005 - 11:31 AM

2 Weddings and a Pimp Party, Episode 2: First Strike Miami

Not much sleep was had on that flight from Las Vegas to Miami. Margaret was lucky to be out like a light while Carol tossed and turned for a bit. Me, I was listening to music and doing crossword puzzles. Incidentally, I now know where those extra dollars go that make America West more expensive to fly than Southwest- their in-flight magazine crossword puzzles, which are MUCH trickier than Southwest's. When I had reached my limit of vague clues and half guesses, I turned off my overhead light and tried to embrace the darkness. By the time we reached Miami, I had gone through 37 different sleeping positions and accumulated a little less than 90 minutes of rest.

Carol and I found the shuttle for our Hotel while Margaret waited for Tony and Tony's parents to show up. We checked into the suite that she was sharing with her sister Ros and Matt and Sharon. I felt bad for not calling Matt before we left to tell him that we were all flying in together to Miami, but he'd left a message on my phone that was like an "If/And/Or" logic puzzle basically saying he'd wake up at 6:30 and call me to see if I needed him to pick me up at Ft. Lauderdale or Miami. Everything worked out ok. I showered, Carol put away her stuff, and then we clambered down to the lobby for breakfast, where quite a number of the wedding guests were already munching and meeting.

The rest of the day (and part of the next) was divvied up between sleeping and eating. It kinda reminded me of my college routine. Wake up in the morning, go to breakfast, back to my room to take a nap, off to class, back to my room for a nap, downstairs for lunch, another nap, class, another nap, dinner, then tv, followed by a late night snack and bedtime. Ahh, the good old days, the salad days. In this case, I napped after breakfast in Carol's suite before we drove out to the harbor for lunch. A ride that turned out to be rather comfortable for me, but not for Margaret, Sharon, Carol, and Jennifer (Tony's sister), who all had to cram into the backseat of the cozy Kia while Matt drove and I rode shotgun. Kia:a quality car if you're looking for a little red wagon.

Later that evening, with a little more snooze time under my belt, we congregated again in the lobby/back patio area of the hotel for the pre-wedding dinner/reception. There were probably half a dozen languages being spoken at the soiree as Sue, the bride, had family coming in from Canada, England, Spain, and Timbuktu. Her dad, a Spaniard, and Jimmy's dad presided over two grills, making sure that there was enough roasted meat for everyone to go along with the mix of Continental and Korean side-dishes.

It was during dinner that Carol went to pick up Ros who was flying in from NY, and PhilandJen shuffled in with our mom from their delayed flights. I needled Ros about her new boyfriend (ooh la la) before excitedly introducing PhilandJen to MattandSharon and Margaret. That was one of my highlights of the trip. In the 4 years that I've been out here, PhilandJen have never visited, and thus haven't met these three people with whom I've become quite close. To have everyone meet and hit it off like I knew they would made my little world complete. Now we just have to adopt Mark and Nick into my family...and if Y moves out to L.A., she can join the fold too. The circle will be complete, and my journey to the dark side will be complete, and my rebel friends on the Sanctuary Moon of Endor will something something.

This being a Kim Clan Gathering, of course we had to retire to the Kim Kids Suite to play a few games (and yes, the Coleman cooler full of Sangria helped to lube us up...seriously, someone had just poured wine and fruit juice and ice into the cooler, so that you just dipped your cup in there for some delicious refreshment). At the end of the night, Phil drove me and our youngest cousins, Chris and Susie, to the other hotel where we would be staying that weekend. I finally got my good night's rest.

The Kim cousins decided to head to a beach Saturday afternoon before the wedding. Matt, Sharon, Carol, Ros, and I actually played in the timid surf (the lack of wavular movement was a bit disappointing) while PhilandJen, Chris, and Susie walked the boardwalk, looking for lunch. The beach was crowded, but not with the expected throngs of drunken college idiots: perhaps we had descended on the lone family beach in Miami, or all the frat boys and sorority girls were readying themselves for Easter Sunday church services. Whatever the explanation, we maneuvered around squealing kids, oblivious mothers, and whale-proportioned daddies sprawled across the sand. It was the perfect example of the American ethos- loud, corpulent, and damn proud to flaunt that ugliness. *shiver*

The wedding at the Biltmore Hotel was, by contrast, an example of what happens when opulence and taste are harmoniously married. The ceremony occurred behind the hotel, just past the courtyard and the terrace, at the grand steps that lead out to the golf course. A moderately soggy evening, cooling as the sun disappeared from the horizon. Men dressed in suits and tuxes (one young boy in a suit top and shorts...so cute!); women in ravishing dresses. Standards from Porter and Gershwin, Ella and Sinatra, Etta and Louis serenading us as we waited for the procession.

The wedding party, indeed the ceremony itself, was small. One of Sue's brothers ushered their mother to her seat while Tony ushered Jimmy's mom. Eddie accompanied Jimmy to his place as the Best Man, and Sue's other brother, serving as her Bride's Maid, led her niece (the flowergirl) and nephew (the ringbearer) to their seats. And then came Sue with her father. She was wearing her mother's wedding gown and, oh my god, was she gorgeous. I was so floored by how beautiful she was that I could not muster up a single word to say to her all night. A woman (I'm not sure who she was) lead the ceremony, not so much officiating, but more like managing the process. One of Sue's English relatives spoke for Sue's half, and Eddie gave a speech about love (his hands trembled quite badly for a while before they calmed down), then Sue and Jimmy exchanged rings and vows. A kiss, some pictures, and then the processional out. That's when the party started.

As more wedding party pictures were being taken, the guests moved around to the side terrace for drinks and hors d'oeuvres. Scotch and Bloody Marys for me. Phil and I tried to get young Chris, who recently turned 21, toasted, but he would have none of it. Everyone mingled and noshed, cooed over babies and admired the blushing bride. People, people everywhere and quite enough to drink. Eventually, we were ushered into the ballroom for dinner.

Here's where my accounting of the events becomes sketchy. So much went on and wine was introduced into the alcoholic mix, further disabling my memory-making abilities. I do remember having a most savory meal, the main course of which was lobster (Tony professeses that it's the best lobster he's ever had) and steak. I recall Eddie bravely giving a SECOND speech, this one a proper roasting of Jimmy. There was also the touching tribute from Sue's brother which left nary a dry eye in the house and the cute and funny toast by Sue's father. The first dance, where they invited other couples to join them on the dance floor. And then all hell broke loose with the live band breaking out the 60's soul and the 70's funk. We danced our asses off. Some people took a lot of coaxing to get out of their seats, others let loose with wild abandon. Chris turned out to be a smooth and entertaining shaker, and Jen showed us who wears the dancing pants in the PhilandJen union. Two points that astounded the audience: 1)On of Sue's gay friends busting some wicked moves on the floor, and then having everyone form a circle while Sue's mom quite happily dirty danced with him and 2)seeing my dad pull out his patented dance moves (an Indian Rain dance and some sort of Love/Acceptance/God hokey-pokey) and having EVERYONE join in even though they had no idea what was going on. PhilandJen and I had our jaws on the floor at that one, laughing in disbelief that such an unhip man could be such a trendsetter.

The night ended too soon for many of us, but, stumbling back to our cars and our hotels on sore feet, everyone had a smile on their face. The next day would be full of its own difficulties and snafus, but that would have to wait. This day, this night, was a night of celebration. And it was the first of 3 straight weekends where I would be getting drunk and dancing like a maniac.

Now Listening To : Some mixes that Elin made for me. She has really good taste in music...too bad we couldn't hang out more.
Random Thought : Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf has a limited time Springtime flavor, Lavender Mint tea, that you should try.

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