Cinderella in Saigon...part 2

[Lori]

Thai has been working since I have been here. He works about 12 hours a day. He explains to me that he has time off for our engagement party. I guess after our party we will be going on a "honey moon" to Nga Trang for 5 days. Wow, that's going to be very nice.
The day of the party they tell me I must wake up at 5:00 am. WHY in the world do I have to wake up at 5 am when the darn thing does not start till 9:00am? OK, now I see...there is a make-up artist come to the house to do my hair and make-up. WOW, now I am really starting to feel special!!!...Wait toooooo  much  make-up....oh my gosh, I thought the frosting was supposed to be on the wedding cake, not on my face. oh well, it's only one day. And in a few hours I'll really start sweating. That should take care of the make-up problem. Ok now the hair , the make-up , and the clothes...check. Gosh, it's so freaking hot.... I need fans and lots of them!!!! Time to go....time to go.....
They take me down to the family room. It's so hot, and on top of that they have a camera man with a huge bright camera light. Geeeesh....I can't see a thing it's so bright. I have no clue as to what I am supposed to do. Evedently the Vietnamese do not believe in rehersals. I look over to my daughter and mouth to her silently, "Help me!!" Thai is directing me as to what I should do. Thank the Buddha for that. Hmmm....wait a minute, this is more like a wedding than an engagement party.We have to give offerings to the Buddha and do some traditional stuff...and pose for about a million pictures....Wait, is that a professional movie camera in that guys hands??? Well, I guess they are filming this to? Next we head to the reception. Thank goodness that part is over. And surely by now all that make-up crap has melted off my face.

m Thaís brother works at this place called Chien Chai Garden. It's very nice. And there are several separate parties there. I spot the make-up artist as soon as we arrive. I search for a place to hide from her but to no avail....she has been waiting for me. I say to myself again, "help me!!" maybe silently someone will here my cries and shoot this woman.

I make my grand  enterance with my prince by my side. They introduce us and we walk in and stand before everyone. Suddenly there is a big bang!!!bang!!!bang!!! ouch!!! something has struck me in the eye.OK it's confetti and fire-crackers. I try to make my way up on the stage blindly. My eyes are tearing up from fake eyelashes and being shot in the eye. How sweet, everyone thinks I am tearing up because I am so happy. Good job, Lori, you pulled it off. We pour chamange and go around from table to table and accept envelopes of money.Finally we go to our table and and eat eat eat!!!!! One question....Do they ever stop eating in Saigon??? I don't think so. Eating is a huge part of their culture. Actually the whole time I was there they were stuffing  me with food. Always worried that I was not eating enough. And wait a minute, I thought this was supposed to be a SIMPLE party. I'd hate to see a full blown wedding. .
Next Thai informs me that we have a room....our own SPECIAL room. woooohoooo!!!! He takes me there and WOW!!! He has 30 red roses for every day I'll be in saigon. He also made about 15 posters declairing his love for me... He seems very proud and happy that this is our very own room. He seems so innocent. REALLY, he is. And he makes every effort to make me happy. I keep trying to tell him that I am a simple woman and do not need to be pampered. God I LOVE this man!!! Let me tell you a bit about him. He is a very serious man. Very devout Buddhist. Very hard worker. At first I thought he was a little too serious for me. But when he got away from his family he was a totally differant man. Joking and funny, good sense of humor. This man does not put on airs, nor is he phoney. He is the most true blue man I have ever met. Also he is very attentive to me. He does simple things that show me he loves me. Such as putting food in my rice bowl for me. Letting me have the shower first, least the hot water run out. He is a very unselfish person. He always puts other peoples needs befor his own. I have not just seen this with me, but with the other members of his family. He is just basically a good man. I really don't see cultural differances getting in the way as I thought they would. We truely have a great repect for eachothers cultures.

That's it for a few days guys....I have not bounced back from this trip. I'm tired, and a little depressed.... I really need to get back into the swing of things.... I cry often.

[Cecil]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001

You have such a wonderfully descriptive style of writing and I could just imagine the whole ceremony.  Lori, I had a filipina tell me one time that all these girls truly want is a good man.  Thai seems to be a good man and I hope that the both of you will be incredibly happy together.  So, have you started your visa paperwork?  Best wishes!!!

Cecil

[Lori]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001

Man, do I have fart stories for you, kevin. But mine go beyond farting...hehe...if ya know what I mean.

[kevin]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001


Congratulations, Lori.  I hope and pray that this is for the best.  True love is a beautiful thing.

I was wondering about your trip.  I enjoyed reading your reports.  Please post more when you have a chance.  If you have a fart story from your trip, I'm dying to hear it (ha-ha).  I hope you can send some pictures to Jeff's Planet Love photo site (please look back at posts of a week or two ago for the site address).  You can also see the photos of some of us, including me and Analyn.

Well, if all goes well, someday I'll be in your shoes again.  I'm hoping to go visit Analyn sometime.  Hopefully your trip to Vietnam to meet Thai in person for the first time will always be a special memory for the both of you to treasure.

Well, I can remember when I returned from the Philippines, I felt very sad.  When I had just returned home, sometimes I'd have spells of crying.  Now I just laugh at myself over this.  I can't believe I cried over her after what happened.

How did you make out with your car?  What was wrong, and how much did it cost?  I hope you weren't ripped off.  Did anybody (a friend or a relative) periodically start the car while you were away?  With my experience of leaving a car idle for longer than a week, the battery loses power.  Then it is difficult to start.  The last time this happened to me, when I first tried to start the car, the starter sound was weak.  Luckily though, I got the engine to start after several attempts, I let it run, the battery recovered, and everything was fine after that.

When I came back from my honeymoon in Oct. 1994, I had an older vehicle.  I had trouble starting it when I returned.  Then once I got it started, the engine was making strange noises for a minute or two.  I'm guessing that the rods had become bone dry as they had not moved for over a week, and every drop of oil must have settled at the bottom.  After a minute or two, the engine sounded normal.

Well, good luck Lori.

Cheers,

Kevin

[Lori]

... in response to Re: Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by kevin on Jul 12, 2001

I am trying to keep my calm about my car, Kevin. I let my stepfather take it in. I am now up to almost u $800. Borrowing money from my folx.  I hate it. That means a total of about $1000I have paid out since I have been home.
m Oh btw, Kev- it was the fuel pump and a computer. The put in a used computer... I am wondering about the fuel pump, if it was indeed the computer. They thought it was the fuel pump at first so they replaced it. Probably did'nt even need it.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001

That's wonderful Lori!

When that first meeting surpasses your expectations that's certainly a great sign!  Thanks for your moving and interesting report.  We look forward to more when things settle down for you.

Jim

[may10]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001

or email me so I'll know.  *S*

[Lori]

... in response to May I have your email address pls?  *S*, posted by may10 on Jul 12, 2001

lori163@home.com

[Bear]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001

The girls that made up Honey for the wedding put more on her than she'll wear the rest of her life.  hehehehehe.

Bear

[Ray]

... in response to Whats with make-up artist?, posted by Bear on Jul 12, 2001

Bear,

I guess it’s just a tradition, for the photos mostly. In our case, the make-up girl showed up at the hotel at 4 a.m. and did the bride and just about every female in the wedding. They must get paid by the pound (of make-up). When we got the wedding photos back after our honeymoon, the first question the wife asked me was “did I have too much make-up on?” (LOL)

Of course that was one of those trick questions that women love to spring on us unsuspecting guys. And of course my answer was “no honey, you looked just great!” (ROFLMAO!). Do you think they know what we are really thinking when we answer those dumb questions? I think so. Just part of the game…

Ray

[tomtneal]

... in response to Re: Whats with make-up artist?, posted by Ray on Jul 12, 2001

you where thinking body painting we no you

[Ray]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001

Hi Lori!

Honeymoon? Wow! I guess they don't waste any time over there. I’m dying to find out if your daughter went along on the honeymoon (LOL). So, did you ever find out if you were married? If so, then congratulations to the groom and best wishes to the bride.

Cheer up! Things will move faster than you think. Ask Mad Mal (or is that now “Happy Mal”?) :-)

Ray

[Lori]

... in response to Re: Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Ray on Jul 12, 2001

not married, just engaged. Hehe about my daughter and the "honeymoon", I'll have to dedicate that part of my story to you, because when you asked about it I died laughing.

[Jay]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001


HI Lori!

Fantastic, I'm so glad to hear thing's went well over there. To be honest, I was a little worried thing's might not have gone so well. Your story is VERY funny the way you tell it. I have been LMAO with it, but very touched at the same time.

I won't be able to post for another month or so, after today, because we are moving, but I will be reading the board everyday as I always do. Can't wait to hear the rest.
I choked-up at the part about the eyes of the man and the little girl. I almost lost it!

Take care Lori, the crying binges stop after a while, but happen every time we have to leave our love behind and come back to this reality. Most of us here who have found someone know all about that.

God Bless,
Jay

 

[Carrisse]

... in response to Cinderella in Saigon...part 2, posted by Lori on Jul 12, 2001

You made me cry, you know.  I'm so happy for you. Congratulations!