Bride's Cookie Day

Christine's mother sent out invitations to a bridal shower/cookie day for Christine. Christine explained that cookie day is a separate event but that her mother decided to combine the shower with cookie day.  My sister Tracy asked me about cookie day and I'd never heard of it. That's because the Bride's Cookie Day is a Chinese custom, one that helps the bride's family get through the sadness of their daughter leaving home.

Individuals from the groom's family deliver foods and gifts to the bride's family for a day of feasting, celebrating and blessing the marriage. Groomsmen deliver a whole roast pig, a symbol of purity, followed by an assortment of fancy beng, or pastries, that contain rich fillings inside delicate pastry crusts. There are usually nine beng varieties for the family to eat during the feast and for saving for later.

After the groomsmen deliver the food and gifts, the bride's family gives them gifts in appreciation of the groom's generosity. This gift collection includes dim sum dumplings and buns and an even number of each kind of bridal cookie.

This day of exchanging gifts is called the Bride's Cookie Day. There is more tradition than I went into but you get the gist of it. The groom and his family don't usually attend this event because it is meant for the bride and her family. However, Christine's parents are inviting families from both the bride's and the groom's sides to enjoy this event.  I'm looking forward to it.

A word of thanks goes to my sister Tracy for helping me learn about Bride's Cookie Day. One of her co-workers loaned her a wonderful book (that I'm buying) called "Good Luck Life," by Rosemary Gong, which is a guide to Chinese American celebrations and cultures. I would like to be able to participate in other celebrations or traditions and I think this book will help me with that.

Construction Zone

Construction Zone

We are holding off signing the contract with Blackhawk Grille for Erick and Christine's rehearsal dinner. They are closing soon for a remodel. They were supposed to close Feb. 1 and reopen around April 1. But with the construction delay, the manager is not sure when they will reopen. He thinks they should be open by mid-April and be completely ready for our May 5 rehearsal date.

The manager is attending a construction meeting next week and will give me a call with an update. Once I hear from him, Christine and I will decide if we should move forward or move on.

I guess there will be a few other concerns that will challenge the wedding planning. I think the trick is to take everything in stride and roll with the flow. Deep breath....now relax.

Taste Test

Since we wanted to try all of the restaurants in order to choose one for the rehearsal dinner, we decided to combine my birthday dinner with a taste test at BlackHawk Grille in Danville. David and I drove to the bay area to Erick's place.  We piled in Erick's car with Erick and Christine and headed to Danville for dinner.

We found out the restaurant is pretty fancy-schmancy.  The appetizers and salads were on the expensive side so to our waiter's dismay we skipped those and went right for the entrees. Christine choose the Grilled Salmon with lemon risotto, tomato butter and seasonal vegetables. Erick ordered the BBQ Short Rib Burger, with white cheddar, bacon, onion rings and sweet potato fries. David had the Fresh Fettuccine Pasta with chicken, and I had the Half Chicken, red potatoes, roasted lemons, basil and olive jus.

Each dish tasted delicious. By the time dessert came--apple crisp with salted caramel ice cream and chocolate chip cookie with cinnamon ice cream--the kids were sold on the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner.  I, on the other hand, was up for more taste testing.  But the restaurant's fare was so exquisitely good...I can live with their decision!  

Sentimental Journey

I've never been a sentimental person--tender-hearted maybe--but not sentimental. So my tears the other day took me by surprise.  I knew Stephanie's dress had come in and that she had her first fitting appointment scheduled.  No big deal.  I'd get to see her dress again the next time I flew down to visit.  Her fitting wasn't even on my mind that morning.  I was at work, writing on my computer, when my cell phone pinged.  I looked at the screen and it was Stephanie. 

 "About to go try my dress on."

Me:
"Oooh, can you get a picture to send me?

Steph:
"Nichole's going with me so I' sure we can lol."
 
I was so happy for Steph.  For about a half a second.  Then I realized that I wasn't going to be there with her for her first fitting.  I teared up a little but was able to  brush away the few tears that spilled out.  I grabbed my phone to send Steph another text. But I couldn't. By then I was crying so hard I couldn't see the cell phone screen. What the heck???? 

Somehow not being with my daughter for her first wedding dress fitting hit me really hard.  I realized how much I wanted to be there. Thank God for technology--her friend Nicole texted me pics as Steph turned this way and that in front of the bridal salon mirrors.  Even so it wasn't the same as being there and sharing that bridal dress fitting experience.  Me, sentimental?  Well, maybe I am, just a little bit.