Trip to Washington State

I hate flying. It absolutely unnerves me. I don't want to die of a plane crash. Most people love the rush as a plane takes off the runway and soars - I can't handle that. During those minutes, I am reduced to a blabbering/praying mess. But once the fasten-your-seatlbelt sign is turned off and it gets to a cruising altitude, I calm down.The occasional turbulence makes me fidget in my seat but it's the next phase I dread - the descent. I can't even describe to you what I feel, I absolutely am placing my life in the hands of the captain and wait in anguish for the wheels to touch down on the runway. But once those wheels touch down , relief and greatfulness replace my tormented mind. I always make sure I thank the captain on our way out - thank you for the safe flight - and I truly mean it.

Once we were in WA, though, we were met by Tito Cesar and Tito Rick - both of whom I haven't seen in years. Nothing has changed of these two gentlemen - except maybe for a few barely noticeable creases and a few barely noticeable gray hairs. Tita Cesar kindly took our baggage and loaded them up in his vehicle and drove away. Tito Rick stayed so he can be my human GPS :-). We rented a car at National Rent-a-car - a Chevy 7-seater Uplander - at a bargain of 29.99 a day plus tax. What surprised me at first as I was driving thru I-5 North is the speed limit - 60 mph. Wow! Tito Rick had to constantly remind me to go at 65 at most and luckily I catch myself if I see the needle hitting 70 ." It's good that it's a sunny day today.", he commented. Sunny in Washington State would mean overcast with a few sun breaks in between. I'm willing to take that too. The roads were dry too, making me believe that it must not be raining at all despite the gray heavy clouds that seem to not move at all. It's strange how I now realize how different WA is from CA - weatherwise. I've lived in WA state for almost a year but the weather didn't bother me. I mean, it still doesn't bother me, but the sky to cloud ratio is very very minimal, so to speak. The skies in WA, even at this late spring is barely seen in the weekend while I was there. I find it fascinating that the shrubs have flowers that are not even in full bloom yet - and most of the trees that I have seen had fresh-just sprouted out leaves. I guess spring comes late in WA. The flowers that we have here is already flaunting their full glory youknow and the plum tree that we have had already withered out their wonderful purple flowers and had now sprouted leaves - while the same trees over there still have their flowers.We finally got to Tita Aileen's house, which is a 40-minute drive outside of Seattle, I think it's further up north. It's wonderful to see my aunts and uncles. Most especially cousins - most of whom I have not seen since they were toddlers. We came from all over - from CA to NY. :) The house has a total of 5 families this weekend - which includes 12 nephews and nieces.
What is the reason for this reunion? My Tita Aileen is getting married. I truly truly truly hope and wish them all the happiness and may they go through all the challenges. I really hope they would be together forever, as silly and as cliche' as it may sound. I get teary eye when I say that this is propbably the first happy time I've had with them in a while (not that it's not always happy when we get together). You see, before this, the last time my mom and her siblings got together was when my grandfather passed away July of last year. So most of us were there to share this happy event with Tita Aileen and Tito Joe.

The Cousins gathered at the living room and started to taunt each other into singing or dancing. Sierra is so adorable in dancing to "Get Low". The golden child whom Mamay adored and fed up until she got to 30 lbs - at three months :D. Mozel is a little shy but sweet in a startling likeness of her mom - only Mozel has blue eyes and hair the color of honey. This is my girl, the girl I baby sat when she was less than 2 years old :-). Grant it adorably awkward in braces and had shot out at a whopping 6'1". Nikko towers above me and is handsome in a scruffy sort of way - hard to believe that this was the skinny stuttering boy I used to know :D. Dale is absolutely a darling and a very well-mannered young man - a far contrast to the bratty-bully kid that I once knew. Bernie has this angelic-smile that is perfectly enhanced by her bi-dimpled cheeks. She impressed everyone with her dancing-popping abilities - my last recollection of her was a preschooler with big bows on her head in cute little girlie-frocks :D. Marvin - what a beautiful boy and already a charming young man (shocked me when he said he had a 23-year-old girlfriend, and he's only 14). I remember Marvin as a toddler in diapers and we used to call him Mr. Bean because of his wobbly walk and wobbly head hahahaha. Stephanie is a very stylish, sophisticated 18-year-old who is sporting a Victoria Beckham bob. She has always been a sweet girl who loves to shake her little tushie in itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny-yellow-polka-dot-bikini. Tamara is a beautiful striking gal with this mysterious-exotic air about her. I last remember her as a baby - in the nursery when her mom first gave birth to her - a beautiful baby with a full head of dark spiky-pixie-like hair. It's wonderful to be with them again.
All of the cousins - except for Tita Aileen's kids because they have to go the hotel later, piled up into two vehicles. With Stephanie as our guide, she took us to historical Snohomish - the scenery on our way there is beautiful. The Cascades just appeared unexpectedly as I turned into this backroad - the range is still covered in snow, a sight that is all beautiful and powerful.
We stopped by a few shops, I even got a mango-scented candle from Inside Out - I think that's the name. We met a shopkeeper who specialize in toys - she's a UC Davis alumni who thinks Davis is the most boring University Town ever :D
We then went to this Lakeside park - a quite park sprinkled with pretty white grass flowers and a small pine forest. The cousins took the liberty of taking photos by the lake, on the grass, by the towering pines. Tita Etet later joined us and she became our photographer. We also went to the Historical section of Snohomish which is lined with beautiful Victorian houses with well-manicured gardens and quaint shops.
One of my cousins pointed at the sky while we were at t. he park and I saw several parachuters just hovering and making the most of the temporary partially sunny day so typical of WA.
I just remembered one of the afternoon highlights - (the women) arguing with Nikko (unsuccesfully) for him to wear the olive-colored neck tie to go with his grayish-brown suit. All the women kept saying that it stands out more if he is to wear the olive tie but he kept insisting that he has black shoes and if he is to wear an olive ittie then he has to wear brown shoes.
Despite of it all, he wore a paisley patterned tan tie - which still looks good on him anyway.
As the night went on, we went home and had dinner - and it was a feast of Kare-kare, embutido and some other Filipino specialties. There was a few karaokes but that was stopped by a call from Tita Aileen saying that it will disrupt the neighbors. We all know that we will have a long day the next day so we all went to bed. I had a hard time sleeping though and I kept waking up.

and I woke up at 530am. I didn't even sound the alarm. The morning went quite nicely, Tita Jojie cooked breakfast and reminded everyone that we do not get to eat until probbly about 1pm. Richelle naturally monopolized the full-length mirror at the hallway and was the first to get ready and was also the last one done.
The trip to Newcastle, WA to the ceremony was quite "adventurous". There were 3 cars altogether and Tito Vlad is taking the lead since he's the one with the GPS navigator - well guess what happened? Since we were all following him, he took the wrong turn and we passed Mercer Island at the other side. Tita Rick kept saying that we took a wrong turn but my mom was insisting that since Tita Vlad had the GPS, we are going the right way. When we approached this bridge, Tito Rick once again said
" Mali 'to. Papunta na 'tong Seattle , Mercer Island na 'to eh. ( This is the wrong way, we are headed towards Mercer Island and Seattle.)."
So Tito Vlad's rented Explorer, our rented Uplander and Tita Etet's Civic were at the number one lane when suddenly without much a warning I saw Tito Vlad's signal light blink to the right and in a span of what seemed to be 1 second he moved from the number 1 lane to the exit ramp to the far right crossing about 4 lanes of traffic, I quickly did the same , checking my blind spot and mirrors and ended up at the gorge of the exit, hoping that I will not get into a collision. In a panic, Tita Rick yelled " Step on the brakes!!!" which I've already done and re entered the exit ramp. My mom got scared naturally :D. Tita Etet thought it was so funny because they could see the whole thing from their vehicle which was following behind us. She said that as soon as I moved the Uplander from lane one to the exit off ramp everyone in their vehicle unanimously said "oooohhh..." and started laughing.
It's a good thing that we left early because we have to turn back around and the GPS recalculated. In no time we were on our way to the wedding venue up a hill and into the Golf Club. The view on top encompasses Seattle, Puget Sound, Mercer Island and of course the course itself. It became another photo op for everyone.


While we were gathered around this fire pit, Nikko handed his sunglasses to Marvin. Marvin puts it on and striked a "model" pose and walked over to our left just to "show off". So Marvin , all geled-up in a cute faux-hawk and a nice suit strutted about for a few seconds when unexpectedly one of the lenses of his sunglasses popped out. It was such a classic moment. I kept playing instant replay in my mind and trying to freeze frame it. How I wish it was caught on video. When the lens popped out and it fell on the ground, Marvin quickly covered the now empty frame with his hand and said "Ay!" in surprise. I thought I was the only one looking, little did I know that Stephanie was looking too and we both looked at each other and doubled up laughing. We all couldn't stop laughing even long after that.

I would save this in a draft but I will come back for more later. Gosh, I didn't know it was this hard to blog. I just want to remember this wonderful event.
Did I mention that Mariah Carey's "Bye Bye " kept playing ? I read the lyrics and it made me cry. Part of me was because being with my family was so great and wonderful and it's too bad that it's over now. But it's great to have such a happy memory and I hope we get to do it more often. :-)
but I'll be back to talk more about this wonderful weekend.

....the ceremony was sweet and touching. My Tita kept asking if we feel sorry because of the situation, I never once felt "sorry" for them, I am actually hoping and counting on this marriage to work. It has to work. He makes her laugh, he listens to her. He dances with her (ever so energetically, it's so cute.)
...I think one of the things that made me cry was when they did their wedding dance. She sat on his lap and he danced with her, she put her arms around him and buried her face on his neck. I saw the tenderness shining in his eyes and I also thought of my grandfather. Their wedding dance was " Through the years" by Kenny Rogers. This is the song of my grandparents for each other and my grandfather passed away July '07. I knew right then and there that my grandfather was there. I could feel his presence, his love.
Bride and The Groom's friends gave their speeches. Everyone toasted for wishes that are beyond the best.
They even showed photos of the couple :-D. They are a beautiful couple in my opinion and the other guests thought so as well. Their children walked down the aisle and are part of the entourage. Tita Aileen looked like an angel with a beautiful silk plumeria tucked behind her ear and same with her two daughters. Grant , being his usual goofy self was doing some "Hiya doin' gestures"...

Little Sierra sang a song for them complete with interactive hand gestures - she is so adorable and I know she gets that talent from her Filipino side of the family hehehe :-D
Richelle and I sang "How do I live". We got good reviews. I got nervous to be frank and I could not hear my voice sometimes but people are so kind about our song :). They think we're the bomb - aww :). I saw Tita Jojie in tears which surprised me :D. I saw my cousins lifting their glasses for encouragement and it made me smile and it eased my nervousness somehow. Then the actual dancing began. Tita Rick was nice enough to take me to the dancefloor and I danced with him. I still felt awkward and I was also thinking that I hope they don't think he's my date in case there is some cute eligible guy there :D.
I think Tito Joe's brother is cute :D. But I can't go there you know. He's my aunt's brother in law - he's family now. Tito Joe does have a cute attorney friend, I only wish he was only 10 years older than me, I'd take it :). He unexpectedly approached Richelle and I and was really friendly and was dancing with us :D. He even joined us in this "train" dance. Tita Etet later on said " You know the attorney guy that you were dancing with? He's single.". :D
Everyone was getting their groove on when "That's the way I like it" came on. With cousin Bernie and Marvin at the lead, we were all in synch in some 70s dance move. Even cute-attorney-guy took his jacket off ot dance more comfortably. But some Grease music came on and I sat down and so did everyone but little Joey was still dancing without a care in the world. He's such a "bibo" kid :D.
And as always, Tito Vlad was the King of the dance floor. I hope I find a love just like Tito Vlad and Tita Jojie or Tita Etet and Tito Cesar or Tita Aileen and Tito Joe ;-D.
Grant was even peer-pressured into gulping champagne - he almost finished the whole...uhm...champagne glass :). He has his best friend with him - their neighbor who lives down the street from them, she is just as beautiful as her name - Savannah. It reminds me of Joey-and-Dawson in Dawson's Creek :D. They've known each other since they were 10 , and they are both 14 now hehehe :D.
Get this, my Tito Vlad had known my Tita Jojie since the 2nd grade. That's almost half a century, that's a lifetime :). Lolo was Tito Vlad's pediatrician when he was a baby. Tito Vlad was actually brought to Lolo's clinic by his mother when he was a baby. The clinic was also adjacent to the house, and my Tita was also a baby. Who would've thought that 20 years later, these two babies would marry? :D.
When we got home, I didn't realize how hungry we were. We ate dinner from left overs from the reception hehehe. The Newlyweds came and stop by to say hello :).
The Cousins all gathered in the living room to watch old home videos and everyone was laughing hysterically at the faux pas of the past :D - from "ultra-hip" fashion to goofy childhood ninja moves, everyone was picked on...dissected...and taken apart :D Oh yeah we were brutal but everyone was having a good time. I still laugh every time I think about it. I almost peed in my pants and my stomach was hurting so bad. If only it can be uploaded to You Tube.Tito Joe was kind enough to say that everyone is welcome in their new home - he is a brave one - we are a huge family. He is a funny guy. He even said in his speech that he's always wanted a huge family and woah...he got what he wanted didnt' he? Him and Tito Rick are ratting on at each other - just like brothers already. I overheard him say to Tito Rick , " You know why I was crying at my wedding? "Tito Rick: "Why?"
Tito Joe: " Because I realize that you are now my brother in law!" hahahahahaa :D
Every man in the house aided Tito Joe down the steps and again, Tito Rick could not resist , he said to Tito Joe , " Joe, I'm glad that your deodorant smells good." hahahahhaa
Then came David's soapbox on monologues - he does great accents - Indian , Jamaican, Mexican and also he does a good "Jack Sparrow" show. Nikko was the star of the night though. We were all haunted by the ghost of our childhood past while the younger cousins laugh , listen and watch with curious , innocent eyes.I've forgotten that Nikko did use to stutter. I recall rockstar Nikko being scared of taking a shower :D - he would panic if water/soap gets in his eyes. I recall Nikko loving FPJ's "Panday".
Day 3...
...so this was our last day in the Partially-Sunny State (I know it's not an aka but , well, that's what I'm calling it).
It was also Mother's day, and we all greeted our Mamay the day before analog style. We went to Seattle - the Space-age inspiration of the Space Needle - we ate there more than a decade ago - I was still a minor :D. It was a great experience. The restaurant inside spins ever so slowly so you'll get a full 360 of Seattle and the surrounding areas. We went to Bill Gates's Music Project. I wanted to check out the Jimmy Hendrix exhibit but I was more excited about the Grunge Exhibit - and I have hopes for it, I know that this exhibit will grow.On our quest to look for the Hendrix Exhibit we entered a, what I can only call, a Utopia for Science Fiction nerds..I mean...fans - way the go Bill Gates yay! :) Interesting place - it holds production pieces from Sci-Fi movies and TV shows (E.T, Star Trek, Coneheads...and Donatello of the TMNJ - uhmm...you know..the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and so much more). We finally found the Music Exhibit. When we walk in, I got drawn right away to the guitar tower and didn't waste time and snap-flash we did (digitally these days). Upstairs, they present demonstration instruments in a glass enclosure. There is a percussion piece in the middle , it has so many sides and angles, I dont' remember much of geometry as to what the name of it is. I wanted to check out the Sound Stage where you get to go up on stage and play live rock instruments - complete with light effects and a big-screen background or more like a flashing billboard. For $20, you can get a poster of your rockband on stage - it's too bad The Cousins and I ran out of time but we went to a real recording studio and had 15 minutes of fun time. Fortunately, Nikko is the only one who makes alot of musical sense in our recording session - he's a member of a punk/rock band back in NY and he's the bands lead guitar player. The recording studio is quite a small space probably 10x5 or even smaller. Inside, there is a bass guitar, lead electric guitar, keyboard and a drumset - oh and a mic :D. So we jammed as much as we can with our musically challenged skills - the off rhythm percussions, the random key strokes..oh and Marvin can play the bass guitar. So it was Marvin and Nikko who was making musical sense - for the rest of us, it's just child's play. I wonder if I can upload our video, let me try...

so while that video is uploading - I had so much fun just goofing around in random songs with occasional ....futile adlib attempts. Nikko saved us all by playing Santeria by Sublime, Roxanne by Police, Under the bridge by RHCP , oh and we have to dip into nostalgia so Nirvana's "Come as you are" found its way to our "setlist" but unfortunately, we only know the first 3 words of this song..we purchased our 5 minute cd and headed to the Food Court -where the "grown ups" are waiting :D - my mom and her siblings.
We headed to the hustle and bustle of Pike's Market - I wanted to see the fish throwing but ran out of time. I don't know if this is just a typical day at the market but the Tulip stands are quite a highlight - and the pepper chandeliers or whatevr they're called. We have to climb up quite a number of steps - whew...hahhahaha , sure burned some calories :D. and someday I can figure out how come even if I set my photos to roate clockwise , it still ends up sideways when it gets posted.It's always great to see my aunts, uncles and cousins, hopefully I get to go to WA again soon.