Grant and Chen Yee marry!

My brother, Grant, married Chen Yee last Friday at the beautiful San Francisco City Hall. It was an auspicious, warm and sunny day. Uber drivers and pedestrian strangers both shouted congratulations upon seeing Chen Yee in white. Little boys clapped behind classroom windows when she walked by. The city hall was buzzing with brides, grooms, and happy and excited witnesses. For a country mouse like me, it felt like the whole city was part of their wedding.

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Chen-Yee, welcome to our family. I remember the night Grant first told me about you. He had called while I was driving, but I was intrigued, so I stayed on the phone in the car long after I’d arrived at my destination. “What is she like?” I grilled. “How’d you meet?” “Does she also read The Economist and like to talk politics?” “Not really…” Grant replied, and I secretly thought, “Oh, thank goodness.”

“Well, is she sweet to you?” “Oh, very sweet!” he answered instantly. Many years later, I think Grant would give me the same un-hesitating answer. Chen-Yee, thank you for being at my brother’s side.  As I’ve come to know you, I realize that you are a strong person, smart, laid-back, easy to feel at home in new families. Welcome then!

Chen-Yee, you’ve also got one heck of a husband. Yes, I’m partial to him: We were best friends growing up; I’m still best friend (#2 now). But Grant wouldn’t be my best friend if I didn’t have a lot of respect for him. At some point in school, he was dubbed the "walking encyclopedia." What people may not know is that Grant’s capacity to care - to feel for total strangers, to talk sincerely, to believe something is his duty - matches his capacity to think, and I haven’t found too many people like that. He is accomplished, yes, but his caring about the greater world is what stands out most to me.

I think you complement each other well: one laid-back and accepting, one pushing to consider the greater world. You two are obviously very proud of each other and comfortable in your companionship. Together, I’m reminded about what Mommy’s older neighbor said when she saw you two taking a walk: something to the effect of  “It’s refreshing to see a young, good-looking couple very much in love.”

So, to the new husband and wife, may you cradle each other, may you grow together! Congratulations!

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Besides the bride and groom, parents are probably the happiest at weddings. Mommy and Daddy were beaming.

Mommy wanted to do something special for Grant and Chen Yee, so she threw them a surprise party on Saturday. Grant and I didn't grow up with relatives in the US, so the other Chinese-Americans became our "aunties" and "uncles". Over the years, most of them and their kids have relocated to the Bay area. It had been years since we'd seen each other, so there was much celebrating and catching up.