It was almost 3 years ago when my parents first stepped on US    soil (or pavement). They were very exhausted but excited as well. I was so relieved  to see them. The next few days were spent showing them around Chicago and letting them have a glimpse of my life and environment. They were like kids in a toy store, just marvelling at the sights and sounds around them . Needless to say, we took a lot of photos   of them together looking sweet and affectionate, almost like newly weds on their honeymoon . They looked like they had a great time, especially my father.

When they first arrived, he looked haggard and dark.   After a few days of R & R, he gained some weight and seemed to lighten up, like there was an inner glow emanating from him. When not running errands with us, he preferred to stay home and watch TV , amazed at the multitude of channels he can surf. Despite being instructed on how to use the kitchen appliances, he shied away from using them . He'd rather starve than use the microvave to heat up some food for himself . He also took a liking to wearing "American clothes". Since it was fall , I bought them some season appropriate clothes to wear. He beamed with boyish pride  whenever Mama teased him of looking better and younger whenever he put on an outfit I picked out for him.

A week before the wedding, my parents invited me to their room.  I was in for the most candid and heartfelt conversation with my parents in my entire life. Most surprisingly, my father really opened up and did most of the talking. He essentially wanted to impress on me that marriage is for keeps and that I should seriously uphold my vows, "till death do us part". He reiterated that whatever strifes may come in my marriage, we should stick together and work things out . He admitted that he wasn't the best husband and father during the early years of their marriage. He said that if not for my mother's love and patience, our family would have broken up years ago. He conceded that my mother had her share of missteps but it never occurred to him to abandon our family.   Whew!!! There was a lot of emotions in the room that night. Whenever I feel like I've come across an impasse in my marriage, I just try and recall that night and I feel assured that things will get better.

On my wedding day, my father and I were left at the apartment by ourselves. We had a leisurely brunch and just savored the calm before the storm. Then, we joined the rest of the bridal party at a hotel for pre-wedding prepping.  When I saw my parents all dressed up, I was astounded at how confident they both looked. My father looked dapper   in his black suit and tie. It reminded me of how he looked at his own wedding  years ago. My mother was equally sophisticated in her 3-piece black and white ensemble.

Then, came the time when my father escorted me down the aisle. His presence beside me   calmed the nerves and unexpected feeling of shyness . He admitted he was also feeling nervous and we had a little laugh about it. It was one of the most cherished memories I had of my father, along with our dance together  at the reception. We danced to Louis Armstrong's song What a Wonderful World. It was indeed a bittersweet moment for me as it was also our last dance . Whenever I hear the late Luther Vandross's song Dance With My Father, I can't help but tear up . Let me end this entry for now with this song. (Click Pause on Music Video of the Week above before playing video below. Thanks.)