The Wedding Report

[Nanook]

Re: Traveling, Traveling, Traveling, Traveling!

yes this is a great story! I just found it for the first time, I look forward to more and more!

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[Laurel]

Re: Traveling, Traveling, Traveling, Traveling!

Oh My Gosh .... the Drama .... bummer ....

What a fun read!

[Soul Hunter]

Redemption?

Rebound! And We’re All in the Family

My wife is a strong woman. She’s also a very sentimental and passionate woman. She wears her emotions on her face, and her voice expresses whatever mood she is in. There is a pounding noise that stirs me from my sleep and I can tell that it’s mad early in Jamaica. You’ll know it’s early in Jamaica if you’re awake and the sun isn’t up. That sucker pops up at like 6am or something and by 8am it’s probably 80 degrees outside. The sun isn’t up at all as I open my eyes, and I realize that the pounding noise is the monsoon coming down outside. It is pouring, and visions of me soaked to the bone in a tux flash through my head. I nod off and Napi’s stirring awakens me with the sun shining as bright as a Flavor Flav’ outfit. The rain has passed, and I remain positive the tux will be dry come Saturday.

Of course, the conversation from last night is still on my mind. I’m wondering if I’m going to be in mood city today, but then Napi asks me, in a voice that is part concern and part love, “Are you sure you want to marry me?” My response is an absolute, emphatic, YES!. I explain my response in further detail and at the end of the conversation, things have returned to normal, though I’m still getting a little silent treatment. You don’t know just how happy I am at that point.

The next order of business is the trip to MoBay. There’s no question this is going to be a solo trip. Getting 5 people in mom’s Galant, and all of the luggage Napi’s folks will be bringing ain’t happening. Fortunately, Napi has already made plans. It turns out that hiphopanthro is still in Ochi doing her graduate studies. The two link up via phone and make arrangements to meet up later that morning. Meanwhile, we still don’t have a clue as to what time her folks are arriving in MoBay. Complicating the matter is the fact that Lil’ sis and her parents are on separate flights. We send out emails and I believe we tried to reach them on the phone, but no dice. Napi takes an educated guess as to the time and we settle on 1500 as their ETA.

I decide to leave the house around noon and after dropping Napi off in front of Island Village for her link with hiphopanthro, continue on my way to Ochi. I’ve driven this route many times before, but I must admit that on this particular reach, the roads were as bad as I can recall them ever being. I’m guessing the heavy rains didn’t help, but there were craters everywhere and at one point I thought I was fording a small stream.

The drive is slow, but uneventful and before long I’m passing Rose Hall and approaching Ironshore where mom and I lived so many years ago. I pull into the airport parking lot and jump out thinking I’ve arrived just in time. I check the large waiting area where Napi and I were picked up by Stone and nada. I’m making my way pass the exit for the terminal when I hear my name called. I’ve found Lil’ sis – and by the looks of it, she’s been here for a minute and isn’t too pleased about it! To her credit though, she was chill. As it turns out, she’s been sitting outside the airport for something like 2 hours. With no phone and no number to call, she was basically waiting for either Napi and I or her parents to show up. Waiting outside an airport is not the lick, and as hot as it is in Jamaica, I can feel her frustration, so I immediately grab her and we head for the bar to grab some food and await her parents arrival. I’m catching nuff dirty looks from the guys at the airport. I’m messing up the game, and now that she’s about to be my Lil’ sis as well, I’m real comfortable with that! Can’t have any and anyone running up on my sis! I’m giving cats the “I’m 250lbs of whooping waiting to happen” look and they know what’s up. Two guys cautiously approach and say something to her, but I’m too busy giving them the “Jamaican eye” to hear what they are saying. Something about her ride finally arriving, but they see the kid ain’t moving and eventually bounce. Meanwhile, the food situation takes an unexpected turn. Lil’ sis clearly orders a jerk chicken sandwich. What she gets is brownstew fish. Some guy down at the other end of the bar is screwing up his face, but too late, cause Lil’ sis is well on her way to knocking off the fish. Their bad! I eat two of my saltfish fritters (whatever the fancy name down there is for it) and save the rest for Mr. And Mrs. G.

[Soul Hunter]

Everybody Ready?

…Clear a Page 3 an a Ongli One Soso Pictcha di Bwoy Haffi Show We?

Lil’ sis and I sit for a while and chat, and before long we spot Mr. & Mrs G emerging from the terminal. She runs over to grab them both and I gather up Lil’ sis’ bag to make the move to the car. Mr. G, who stands darn near 6’5” tall comes rambling over, takes one look at me and exclaims, “Who’s pregnant, her or you!?” [img]/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] Now y’all know he ain’t have to do me like that!! I give him a pound, hug Mrs. G and with the help of a porter we make our way to the car. It’s a tight fit and with all of the bags the original plan is to have them condense whatever they need for the night and the drive back tomorrow into one bag and leave the rest at Aunt Metty’s house. Unfortunately it’s after 1600 by the time we get to her place and with her housekeeper already gone, we were looking at a short wait for Aunt Metty to leave her job and meet us at her house. We decide to roll on and leave some of the bags with my Mom who will not arrive in Montego Bay until Saturday. You all know what day we’re on now, right? It’s Thursday January 12th.

So with all bags present, and everyone in the car and already properly fed, we take off for Ochi, cracking jokes and discussing the yet-to-be-finalized St. Louis ceremony that will follow the Jamaican version later on this year. The drive is once again terrible, and Mr. G is utterly flabbergasted at the inefficiency of Jamaican construction and roadwork. For instance, he aptly points out that whereas in an American city a road crew might dig up one lane of a road and route traffic along the other lanes, thereby minimizing the impact on traffic, Jamaica seems content to dig up the whole blasted town and send traffic all over the place. It’s a good point and I comment that as is usually the case in construction anywhere, somebody somewhere is benefiting financially from this lack of efficiency. He will comment about this throughout the entire journey to Ochi. It’s like one of those things that bug you, and the more you see how stupid it is, the more it bugs you? The entire drive to Ochi…Once again, though, the ride is uneventful and we pull in to Tower Aisle at a little after 1800.

This is the first time my mother has met Napi’s parents and I’m grateful they immediately hit it off well. It helps that my mom is still ticked off at me, and as such she isn’t saying much. I show everyone to their rooms, and before long we are all gathered in the living room discussing the pregnancy, Alaska, the wedding, and the St. Louis ceremony. We also break out the beautiful handmade blankets moms brought back for us from Alaska, along with some cute beanie baby type things for Peanut. It occurs to me at that moment that Napi and I haven’t taken a single photograph since our arrival on the island and I break out the camera and snap a couple of pics.

[Soul Hunter]

Finally!


The ladies Doing Their Thing...

[Soul Hunter]

Re: Finally!


Mr. G Is Cold Chilling...

[Soul Hunter]

I Think I'm Pregnant!


Me and My Pregnant Self with the Ladies!

[Ochigal]

Re: I Think I'm Pregnant!

SH...is that your mom in the white t-shirt? She look familiar. does she work in a office in Pineapple Place?

[Soul Hunter]

Re: I Think I'm Pregnant!

that's my moms - but i don't think she's ever worked in pineapple place.

[Soul Hunter]

It's Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Approaching the Big Day

The next morning we roll out of bed somewhat lazily and stagger out into the living room. Napi and I are the last ones out of bed and after a smashing breakfast of ackee & saltfish with boiled green bananas and fried dumplings, Mr. G gathers up his daughters and we take a walk around the neighborhood. We spot the caretaker from the church next door and walk over to the church to pay him a visit. When we were last in Jamaica, David and his wife were expecting and he informs us that Lisa delivered a healthy little boy a few months ago. He asks if we want to see him and of course we can’t resist. Lisa brings the baby out and the oohs and aahs abound…


Lisa and Joshua

It doesn't take much for Napi to get ahold of the baby! This picture alone tells me just how great a momma my wife is going to be! [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70377-loveeyes.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70377-loveeyes.gif[/img]


She is absolutely glowing!

[Soul Hunter]

Re: It's Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

We chat with them for a few more minutes and then head back home. Mr. G tries to take a few shots of the ladies, and I do the same...

[Soul Hunter]

On The Road Again...

While we’re out strolling, mom and Mrs. G have been in town seeing about hair-do’s and such. They have since returned, sporting their new do’s and Napi and Lil’ sis take off into town with an overpriced taxi-man. I’m sure Napi will come on here soon and blast off on me about my views of this youth and his ridiculous price of $500 Jamaican for what should be a $60 Jamaican drive…

Anyway, Mr. G and I use the time to do some good old male bonding; taking a look under the hood of mom’s car. After some true mechanical work by Mr. G, and me doing nothing more than holding a screwdriver, we decide the car needs a new air filter and set off into town to pick up Napi and Lil’ sis and grab the filter on the way back. We find them coming out just in time but in true Jamaican fashion, the auto parts store is closed while the owner runs some kind of errand. I swing around into town, narrowly avoiding a self-created collision, complete with running my first red light in Jamaica, and we hit the Juicy patty store for some lobster patties. Let me say this right now; do not/not eat a lobster patty at Ms. Sonia’s and then go buy a lobster patty at any other spot. nah mek it!. The patty does the job though, and after determining that the now present shop owner doesn’t have our particular filter, we call it a morning and head back home to load up the car and head to MoBay.

We navigate the route back to MoBay (complete with a wrong turn by yours truly…) and arrive at 1930 hours. We have a reservation for dinner at the Three Palms Restaurant and scramble to change and make our reservation. After a short ride in a hotel shuttle, and mild confusion at the door regarding our reservation, we settle in for what turns out to be good service, decent food and great conversation. It’s a relaxing time and I for one appreciate the break. Tomorrow is drawing near and as the minutes count down, the realization that this beautiful woman beside me still hasn’t gone shrieking into the night at the thought of marrying me is starting to sink in. In less than 24 hours, Napi will be my wife.

Napi and I take a walk around the grounds of the hotel, and though I don’t remember much from my Mom’s time working as a manager at Rose Hall, I can say without a doubt that it wasn’t as nice then as it is now. The lawns are meticulously manicured, the pools spotless, and the views spectacular. The sound of the ocean comes crashing in, and it’s a soothing and peaceful time as we make our way around the water slide in an attempt to find the wedding pagoda. It will actually take the help of Mr. and Mrs. G before we finally stumble upon the location for our wedding. It’s not exactly what I had thought it would be (pagoda overlooking the ocean), but even in the dark of night you can sense the serenity and beauty of the location. As we head back to our room, the ocean sings out to us and as I fall asleep beside my fiancé, I smile at just how fortunate I am to be in this place, with this woman (and the Peanut!), at this time…

[evesisland2]

Re: On The Road Again...

I've been sitting here reading this story for over an hour and I'm glued. I'm in awe of how much you love Napi and at how lucky you too are to have one another. And you SUCH a great writer. I have laughed my butt off!! GREAT report so far. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70371-jump.gif[/img]

[Laurel]

Re: On The Road Again...

[img]/forums/images/graemlins/70459-hugs.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70459-hugs.gif[/img] [img]/forums/images/graemlins/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

[Soul Hunter]

Re: On The Road Again...

thanks ladies! i was going to resize some of these pics, but it appears you only get a short window to edit posts. [img]/forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif[/img] i'll try and keep them around the 600 pixel max as we continue on. Lots of pics of the big day forthcoming!