THE BIG WONDERFUL CHINESE WEDDING

The snake was delicious.It would have been discourteous not to at least try it, being the highlight of the wedding dinner. Also the most expensive. The secret at a Chinese wedding is to eat slowly. There is no letup on the gastronomic delights. The moment one plate is empty, another miraculously appears on the table already groaning with soups, fish, pork, buns, noodles, chicken’s feet, duck tongues and wine and beer and more wine and beer and more wine and beer. And Coke and Pepsi for the fainthearted. At 6pm we entered the foyer of the hotel where our “adopted” daughter Michelle, and Jason, her husband to be, greeted every one of more than 300 guests. At 10pm the food and wine still flowed, Michelle had changed dresses three times, and only the party animals were still going strong. The dancing and party games would continue for several more hours. So long as people were eating, the food kept coming. At 11pm I had to leave. Michelle appeared at my shoulder to offer me my cigar, and to light it for me as tradition dictated. She was tired, but the adrenaline had kept her going now for over 48 hours. She had attended individually to every guest, no matter what their whim or whimsy. For this one day she was everyones personal servant. How different it is from our Western weddings where the bride is pampered and preened without having to lift a finger. I’m so proud of her. Later I will tell you a little about the traditions, but it’s so different to the western way that the entire process can take as much as one year to complete. It was a fabulous, marvelous, wonderful, slightly teary night. Now I wait for Anne (Guo Ya Na) to marry, and my Chinese family, extended through mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, cousins, brothers, in-laws, grandparents and ancestors will have joined hands and hearts. East and West at last harmoniously melded together in a single family. In peace.