Seattle

I don't like weddings. I think it's because of my own failed marriage that I just don't think it works, so why bother. However, when I do attend a wedding and feel the love and happiness from the soon to be Mr. and Mrs., it takes me back to Fatasyland all over again. For the next few hours, I actually believe in happily ever-after.

Yolanda and Mike's wedding was very simple and casual. It was truly a celebration of love.

The ceremony was very short and sweet. The rest of the night was just one big feast and party. Food was great, the open bar was greater. Everyone just let loose and dance their hearts out. They were very considerate and rented a bus to shuttle people so they wouldn't have to worry about driving home drunk.

I've been to Seattle a few times before but have not seen Mt. Rainier so close and so pretty. The weather was cool and crisp. I love how green Seattle is.

Allen had the pleasure of photographing the wedding. Some of the images are here at www.altphotoimpages.com He really captured the spirits of the weddings and brought the wedding back to live again.

It was also great that he got to see all of his family, some of whom he hasn't seen in many years. It was almost like a family reunion. We stayed at his mom and step-dad's and they were wonderful hosts. I am glad he went home. And I am glad he took me with him.

Cyber friends

We used to call everyone we know or know of 'friend' when we were much younger. And we really did treat him/her as a friend - no pretense no "What's in it for me?" mentality. Friendship was pure and simple. We said what was in our minds and fought fair and square. No one held grudges, BFF was BFF the next day again.

Some of my closest friends were made in my younger years. I met Jamie and SJ in 7th grade. Although I hadn't seen or talked to Jamie in almost 15 years, when I saw her again in Taiwan last summer, we talked all day and all night. For 14 hours, we caught up the last 15 years, and I felt just as close to her as if I've never left Taiwan.

I met Anne during my freshman year at UCLA. She and I couldn't be more different. She is 5'10" and I am only 5'2". She is very outgoing and I am a loner. Somehow we hit it off right away when she asked what my name was and where I was from. 30 years later, she is still the one I call when I need a shoulder to cry on.

I made acquaintances very easily but few I call friends because I truly believe friends are to keep forever. Through the years, I have met many amazing people who have helped me grow both personally and professionally and lucky enough to be friends with.

Now we are in a new era where we meet people online and invite them to be our 'friends'. Social networking has never been greater and more powerful. But are these friends really 'friends'? Perhaps because I am still living in the innocent age of my past that I truly thought my friends on my 'friends list' are real friends, not just Cyber Friends. After all, there are only about a dozen of them on my MySpace or Facebook. I follow their daily activities, wish them 'Happy Birthday' on their birthdays, and give my regards when they get sick. It was quite disappointing that when my birthday rolled around, the 2 people who shared their birthdays around the same week that I had sent my birthday wishes to didn't bother to return the same wishes.

Yeah, they are just cyber friends. I need to remember that.