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Tuesday, August 27, 2002 FAMILY AFFAIRthis past weekend, my sister renae married the boy next door. well, actually he lived five doors down from us about 30 years ago, but i still think it qualifies as a storybook romance. not only was it my sister’s wedding, but also a reunion for the old neighborhood. but, i’m getting ahead of myself, so lets start with friday. A STAR IS BORN friday, i drove out to el segundo to see my sister rozy’s 6 year old boy henry make his theatrical debut in the summer school production of THE LION KING. henry played one of the hyenas to perfection. he really made the character his own, and i’m not just saying that because i’m his proud uncle. henry is a natural and was born to be on stage ! there were about 35 kids in the presentation, ranging from ages 5 thru 12. funny to watch these little people because it’s so very clear to me who they will be when they grow up. the leaders, the victims, the charismatics, the invisibles and so on, were all represented. i tried to remember what category i fell into at that age, but i couldn’t. i was just a very quiet bit player in my parent’s drama. MAMA’S FAMILY i headed down to san diego saturday morning at 7:am to avoid any traffic, and it was smooth sailing all the way. i listened to faith evans, kenny chesney and brooks & dunn c.d’s to keep me company. i decided to go down there a day early to just hang out as part of my ongoing reconciliation with my childhood. i drove through la jolla, mission beach and the hillcrest area, where i had pancakes at THE CREST CAFE. finally, before i went to my sister renetta’s house, where i would be staying for the night, i drove to the cemetery where my mother is buried. i hadn’t been there since the funeral, nine years ago. being at mama’s grave was eerie and comforting. i still miss her so much. once i got to renetta’s house (the same house i grew up in), i plopped myself down in front of the t.v. and didn’t move until it was time for bed. i saw two episodes of DYNASTY 2 : THE COLBY’S on the soap network and two terrific programs on MSNBC based solely on plastic surgery. i slept like a baby that night, like being back in the womb. LUTHERFER the wedding was lovely. my father gave renae away. it was the third time down the isle for both the bride and the groom. afterwards, we all met at renetta’s house for the reception, where her husband ulysses had prepared a feast. i really tried to hurt myself on those barbecued ribs and macaroni & cheese. fuck my diet. alot of people from the old neighborhood showed up and most of them i hadn’t seen in 25 years. the best was seeing anthony from next door. we used to build go-carts together. i left san diego that night at 11:pm en route to los angeles. somewhere near oceanside, it occurred to me that i was the only one in my family who is unmarried (not counting my marriage to satan). there was absolutely no traffic and i made it back home in one hour and forty-five minutes. i listened to luther vandross all the way. . | Permalink 2009 RuCo, Inc.—All Rights Reserved |
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