Wedding

 It started on June 3, 2022, the birthday of Pam (now) Lasky.  She agreed to marry my son Bret while they were on vacation.  It was recorded by The Weather Channel because Bret and Pam were on a beach during an approaching storm.  

Flash forward to May 22, 2023 when our taxi driver Ademar picked Cristina and me up at our home in Sao Paulo at 4:30 PM.  He delivered us to Guarulhos Airport in less than an hour, the fastest time in recorded history.

Our flight to Miami (saw A Man Called Otto with Tom Hanks) was only eight hours arriving at 4:30 AM Tuesday the 23rd.  We had to wait 5 1/2 hours for our flight to Jacksonville (JAX).  That allowed us to have both breakfast and lunch at Miami International.  It also gave me time to buy and start reading Tom Hanks's new novel, The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece.

Our taxi driver for the trip from JAX to our hotel in St. Augustine (Homewood Suites by Hilton) was originally from South Sudan, the youngest new country in the world.  Very educational ride.

On Tuesday night, Bret joined Cristina and me for dinner at Hurricane Patty's.  I enjoyed a delicious meatloaf and discussed our upcoming celebration dinner (Saturday night) with one of the managers.

On Wednesday the 24th, we took an Uber to the Men's Wearhouse at the St. John's Town Center in Jacksonville to pick up my tuxedo.  I must comment on their lack of good customer service.  They refused to let me use their bathroom.  Claimed they didn't have one.  I don't believe that.

We also shopped at Target (which was so freezing I bought a sweatshirt) and Barnes and Noble.  We lunched at Panera Bread.  

That night our hotel had a reception offering some tasty snacks and beverages.  Then began my series of surreal experiences.  A young woman waved at me.  Who was she?  As she got nearer I recognized my niece Lauren (whom I hadn't seen in perhaps twenty years) followed by her husband Alex (whom I had dinner with in Sao Paulo about five years ago).  

On Thursday the 25th, Cristina and I attended the wedding rehearsal followed by a dinner and then a cocktail party at Sangrias.  We happily saw my sister in law Janet, then the bride to be Pam (Mrs Lasky) and her family Ron, Janet, Becki and David.  On the street near Sangrias, we ran into Varun, Joe and Eddie, three of Bret's childhood friends from Queens whom I hadn't seen since they were in high school.

On Friday the 26th was the wedding.  Cristina (in her beautiful green dress) and I arrived by shuttle at the White Room at 3:30 PM for photographs.  The ceremony started at 4:30.  Bonita and I escorted Bret down the aisle.  My job then was to give Pam Bret's wedding band.  I "done good."  Also standing up for the bride and groom were my daughter Rachel, my son in law Mike and my grandsons Nate and Leo.  

Following the ceremony was a dinner also at the White Room.  I made a speech toasting Bret and Pam which was well received.

The next morning I returned my tuxedo.  We then walked to the Apple Store where Cristina bought a new cell phone.  We lunched at Panera Bread again.  Our Uber driver both ways was from Ethiopia.  

On Saturday the 27th was the celebration dinner at Hurricane Patty's, hosted by Rachel, Mike, Cristina and me.  I had done the work, along with the restaurant's management, of arranging the dinner.  All, especially Rachel, said it was a success.

On Sunday the 28th was the brunch at the Chatsworth Pub and Tea Room.  On our way back to the hotel, I had a chocolate ice cream cone at Kilwin's on St. George's Street.

On Monday the 29th Cristina and I shopped at Publix supermarket where we bought things difficult to find or not available in Brazil: Coffeemate, cans of tuna chunks packed in water, Paul Newman's salad dressing, Kraft Parmesan Cheese, Jello pudding, Crest toothpaste and Ghirardelli's chocolates.  I also bought a small apple pie, which turned out to be cherry.  Better luck next time.

Cristina and I had lunch at Panera Bread for the third time.  We had dinner at Harry's Seafood, Bar and Grille, where I ate shrimp and grits.

On Tuesday the 30th, we checked out of our hotel, had lunch at the St. Augustine Fish Camp and took an Uber to JAX.  Our flight to Miami was delayed so when we arrived we had to walk fast to get to our flight to Sao Paulo.  

On Wednesday the 31st, Ademar was waiting at Terminal 3 and delivered us safely home.  It was my tenth anniversary of arriving in Sao Paulo to live permanently.  

I must also mention others whom I enjoyed being with: Adam and Mary, Karen and Bill, Elyse and Talia, Cindy and Robert, Torie and Daniel and Grey plus Taylor, Matthew, Helaine, Andrea and Dani, Robbie and granddaughter Adeline, Leslie plus her sons Derek and Jered, and finally Ted and Barbara.  The week exceeded my high expectations.