"Congratulations,"I said to the rabbi-looking guy two seats away from me.
Because some empty seats were available, a flight attendant had asked me to move to a different seat so the heavier couple could travel five hours more comfortably. I gladly moved to where she pointed to, where there would be an empty seat between me and the wise rabbi. As soon as I sit, he asks the flight attendant if she could move me to somewhere else. I get it. I'm not welcomed. He hadn't slept for two days, he says, see, his daughter got just married.
"I'm coming from a wedding too," I continued.
"Your daughter's too?" He asked without any hesitation, thank you very much.
"No. A close friend's."
Grace Jeong has been married for awhile now. Grace and her husband Joe decided to have a wedding reception in New Jersey, for those who could not attend the one in Korea in January. I first saw her in the bride's room at the reception, not having seen her for over two years. She looked like a Mrs. Kwalk, in her Korean traditional dress Hanbok and all curled-up hair, touching up her make up. Then I met Joe for the first time--he seemed like a sweet romantic guy I'd been hearing about, and had seen in pictures.
They had a cocktail reception first, where a variety of warm and cold food and bars were available. The siblings, Angela and John, greeted the guests by the entrance, and the couple in their Hanboks greeted and briefly talked to them inside. James, Harah, and I were asked to take pictures to document this memorable event, so we kept ourselves busy, while feeding each other.
After an hour or two, we were led into the dining room, and we went to the designated table. Lit candles, classic songs, beautiful flowers greeted us, as we waited for the couple and their family to enter. And when they entered, we gave a big applause (I think I might have screamed. A lot.) and they dance. GRACE gave a classic waltz performance. Unfortunately, I forget the songs they danced to, because I was too nervous for her. She was nervous in her now-changed short white dress with an elegant hair pin, in the hands of her husband, trying to compose herself. It was beautiful, full of emotions.
Then as they sat, Angela, John, Dan, and I were asked to give speeches leading to a toast to this lovely couple. And I don't quite remember the details before and after this: Grace and Joe kissed. For a looooooong time. Or it seemed like a long time.
Now, some of you may remember how sensitive Grace was with touching. If you ever got a two-armed hug from her (as opposed to one armed, which she mostly did), you are lucky. She even hesitated to shake hands. So from what I remember, this kiss was a shy, yet passionately loooong kiss. Harah and I went "aaaaaaww! aaaw aww awelfuhlskdjfgnkjhalerug!!"
"Get married soon, so we can talk!" Grace emphasized several times. She feels with all the right reasons, that she has reached the next and the most important stage in her life. And its experience can not be shared as other subjects would, with those without experience. But in the meantime, I'll be here for when she needs a good listener, a friend, and a sister in the US (her two sisters are in Korea).
Grace is fun to be around.
She endlessly came up with random things to say and do, and all of us enjoyed being around her.
Grace is talented.
She had come to the States to pursue further studies in Church Music with pipe organ being her specialty. In front of the pipe organ, her small hands and feet would gently yet powerfully touch the deep range of its chords, creating a magnificent melody echoing in the biggest auditorium in campus.
Grace is direct.
When she got hooked to the Maruchan Vietnamese sauce, she would tell me to use only a little bit of it so she can save more for later. She would tell me how grateful I should be that she'd share her then-favorite-chocolate Almond Hershey's. Before she left, and I was all teared up, she would tell me how much she'd miss me, and how much she appreciated.
Grace is married.
