March 15, 2020
The whole week leading to today had been crazy. With minute by minute reports of the corona virus that originated from China aggressively sweeping the world including where the wedding would be held, in California, we were on the edge. We were worried about my daughter. Every time someone sent a message of cancellation, we felt sad. My in laws all backed-out. The groom’s friends and cousins backed-out too. Many people did and it was understandable. We also didn’t want people to come and be uncomfortable and worried about their own health and safety.
Two days ago a stay-home order was issued in San Francisco. Today we were not even aware that seniors are no longer allowed to leave their homes. Edmund and I are still years before 65 but many of our guests are, including all my brothers.
I kept getting messages about Sonoma county having two confirmed corona virus transmissions. Someone also sent me a barrage of weather reports that there would be a storm in Sonoma. But what should we do? Rain and thunderstorms? Ever since I was little I prayed through rain. Whenever I wanted to play outside, I sang rain rain go away….and they disappeared. when I was feeling sad because my parents scolded me, I looked forward to the smell of rain after hitting the hot soil. And they came, sometimes, even in the middle of summer.
We knew beforehand that the first two weeks of March was still considered winter and the beginning of spring. We were ready for rain that’s why I insisted that we chose an indoor venue for both the ceremony and reception as well.
The wild card that wasn’t in the equation was the virus. It was not in our guest list. Hell no!
Lucky for us close friends and family showed up. Oyen’s college schoolmates and close friends from Fordham came, all 13 of them. Her close friends from elementary and high school in Manila, Shiela, Anne, and Kathleen were here too. They defied the virus scare and social distancing to celebrate with us and honor my daughter today, minus the hugging and beso beso.
Kuya Junior
Dev, Angie, Len, Eves, Rae
Ricardo IV, Kiefer & Mason, Roderick
Mel & Michael
Bong, Eves, Nyke, Rae, Angie, Dev
Edmund with Kuya Junior
My sis in law Dimps.
My kumareng Letty from San Diego and the mom of the groom, Wilna.
