Usually if I spend a thousand bucks its on something I want or need. Not something I do just because its a nice thing. I worry about money a lot and I have a buffer zone in my bank account. If I spend enough money that I go into it, I stop spending on anything but essentials until payday.
But this time I have to make an exception.
I’m going on leave tomorrow only for a few days. The wife andI are flyinmg to her hometown to attend her niece’s wedding. Heck, I consider her my niece, more than technically, since she’s a great kid…now an adult, obviously.
She’s been in a wheelchair her entire life but she always had a smile or a joke. Now she’s getting married and I promised her that that I’d be at the wedding in my dress blues a long time ago. So its costing me over a grand just to get there and I had to burn some leave days I was saving up…it worth it, I think.
My in laws have always been great to me…I know I’ll be the only black pewrson in their hometown so it makes me a bit uncomfortable. (people there tend to stare at me since few minorities come there, apparently). But I ain’t missing this wedding.
Thanks! I am psyched to be there, since the neice in question has been asking my wife if I would be able to attend. I plan on surprising her with my presence since my wife sneakily told her “he will be there if he can, but you know the army…”. She’s not sure I’ll be there. So it’ll be great when I show up!
Been there from the other side, your being Black may be new or different to them the looking is one out of two things getting use to some thing new or wondering about the man in the dress uniform and should they come up to you and say thanks.
Honor you neice on her day what better gift is there?
You should spend the whole time you’re in town in uniform. People will think there’s something scary going on since there’s a “colored fella from the military” hanging around
Seriously tho, sounds like you’re going to get your money’s worth out of this trip. Your niece will be thrilled!
Just got back from the wedding weekend guys…it was GREAT!
Amanda (my niece-in-law) was beautiful! Her new hubby seems like a great guy. While I was the only minority for miles around this place everyone treated me fine, in and out of uniform. Seriously, the preconceptions were mostly on my part as I am ashamed to admit it. My wife’s family as always were great. My mother in law cried when she saw me come in the door because she was so happy I’d come. My brother in laws all came up and hugged me when they saw me teling me they wished I’d visit more often. the people in town were all friendly and shaking my hands. It was wonderful. Theres a lesson to be learned there and it was learned by me. Don’t let preconceptions about people or where they are from or what they look like control you. Heck, my wife’s uncle and aunt wanted to take me out to dinner. (He being prior military wanted to share military stories. We drank much beer and told many jokes!)
The Wedding was beautiful. Amanda has cerebal palsy made it to her wedding she cried too. I really felt more welcome there than I do in my own home town! Her father, my wife’s brother, had a bad farm accident a week ago and just got out of the hospital in time for the wedding. He was so happy I came we spent a good ten minutes hugging and crying.
But I am mostly happy for Amanda. When I asked where the honeymoon was she told me she didn’t know. Her husband had her friends pack for her so she wouldn’t know where he was taking her. He really is a great guy.
After the wedding my wife and I stayed with her best friend from High School. (I’ve met her before she actually visited us when I was still stationed in Europe) She’s recently divorced and her sons were playing with impressively realistic looking M-4 bb guns. I was just explaining to them how a real M-16 and M-4 functions and how we (army wise) safely use them on a range and her (the friends) mother told me she was so happy I was willing to spend time with the boys. It made me feel kinda good.
So all in all it was a blast, guys. I look into the mirror and I was the one that prejudged…I’m sorry for that, and I won’t be so easily shifted into my preconceptions again. When I get settled I’ll try to post some of the photos!
That sounds awesome. I attended my own niece’s wedding just about a year ago. No way I was going to miss it, even though the plane ticket was a bit of a burden.
The culture shock was a bit weird. I have never seen so many cowboys in my life.
The reception was held in a little ballroom next to a biker bar! When my wife and I parked and were walking to the door there were a bunch of pretty rough looking biker guys with Harleys drinking beer outside of the bar. I was still wearing my blues. One of them shouted “Hey!” to me. I thought ‘Here it comes, I’m the only black person in the county…sigh’. This guy then walks up to me and says “Where you stationed at, Sarge? My friend and i here are the local recruiters!”.
Then all of the bikers come up, shake my hand and are telling me how they support the troops. Hell, I had a beer with them later on. again, i judged books by their covbers and I was wrong. I’m glad I was wrong, too.
But you and I have one thing in common here** tdn**. The cost of the flight put a dent in my wallet! but it was worth it!
Yeah, I think I paid over $500 for my ticket. The worst of it was the flight home. Albuquerque to Denver was OK, but Denver to Boston sucked. It was delayed by about an hour and a half. (They couldn’t figure out how to refuel.) I didn’t get home until about 3am.
One thing I should have added…during the wedding dance I hear the DJ say “Everyone get up and clap…we have in our midst, Jolly Roger, who came all the way here from Ft. Bragg! He hasn’t been here for 14 years, but he’s part of our family and this song is for him!”…the proceeded to play “Kung Fu Fighting”. You see, my wife had told her sister in law (mother of the bride) how I liked that song from my youth…SIL was so happy I was there she was determined to get me on the dance floor before i chanfged out of the dress blues… when all of these people stood up and clapped and cheered me on the floor i almost started crying myself. My wife has 11 brothers and sisters and the nieces, nephews, in laws accordingly…a lot of folks! The SIL in question told me “You’re family, get used to it!”.
Man, most of my immediate family are gone. It felt good to have someone tell me I was family to them.
What a great story! I’m all smiles, for the wedding, for Jolly’s good experience in the world of race relations … and the fact that Kung Fu Fighting was one of my favorite songs too.
Glad you had a great time Jolly Roger. You made it sound like a ton o’ fun!
I, too, paid big bucks to go to a niece’s wedding four years ago. Hmmmm… what is it about nieces that makes us do that you reckon?
Speaking of Kung Fu Fighting, it was playing on Sirius radio Saturday on my way home from work. I was boogyin’ to the 70s. I sang along at the top of my lungs. Good thing nobody else was in the truck!
