California Beginnings & Endings

Despite all the Disneyland craziness, the REAL reason we went down to California was to attend my brother's wedding.

My brother asked the dashingly handsome sidekick to be a groomsman, and his fiance asked our three older girls to be flower girls and our son to be a page boy.

I had never heard of the page boy role before, but apparently page boys carry the bride's train as she comes down the aisle.

Part of the page boy's outfit was a pink bow tie.

Son was not too happy at the prospect of a pink tie. But then we pulled out a picture of the DHS back in 1984 at HIS uncle's wedding, sporting a pink tie AND cummerbund and that made Son feel a lot better. If Dad could pull it off, so could he.

The wedding went off without a hitch and the happy couple are now vacationing on an Alaska cruise.

We danced the night away at the wedding reception Saturday night and were up early on Sunday to catch a flight north.

Dad, Mom, Sister, Aunt, Uncle, Cousins.... (Notice I've kicked off my heels to dance)

It was tough saying goodbye. I saw my sister crying and that set me off. It's especially hard when we say goodbye to my Hong Kong family because we rarely have concrete plans for seeing each other again. The last time my sister saw my three middle kids (before this trip) was over two years ago. My almost-four-year-old was Baby's age. Just one of the disadvantages of having a far-away hometown, I guess.

I wouldn't trade my upbringing in Hong Kong for anything, but man, this part of the equation stinks.

Still, we savor the times we do have together. And it makes them all the more special.

How about you? Do you live close to your family? How often do you get to see them?