First, my oldest daughter - Clarissa Ane - got married this past Friday down in Coral Springs, FL to a wonderful boy/man called Damon Stinson, a son from a Kentucky family. I now have a son! It was a weekend full of activities, emotions and feelings, and it all turned out wonderfully!
Since none of my family could come up from Venezuela, and I did not have the latitude/opportunity to invite any of my friends (and the relationship between my ex-wife and my family and me, have never been minimally civil) Jan, Alex, Leah and I cautiously walked alone into potential 'hostile territory' starting on Thursday night with the rehearsal and the rehearsal dinner, Friday for the wedding ceremony and reception, and Saturday for the Kentucky Derby celebration at Calder Race track.
With a couple of minor exceptions, my older daughters, their mother and her immediate and extended families were warm or, at least, gracious and proper at all times; further, we were able to pair up frequently with the groom's family and really enjoyed meeting them.
I also got to spend some time with my ex-father-in-law, to whom I was once very close and with whom I had not spoken in over 24 years... It was also soul warming to learn that his feelings and appreciation for me haven't changed over the years either...
Bottom Line: all stars aligned and many people put their best effort forward to make this past one a truly memorable, in the most positive way, occasion!
Other headliners:
My second daughter, Valentina, is returning for her last year of Medical School after a Sabbatical in which she got a Master in Journalism. She is engaged to be married and have set no date yet.
Alex & Leah finished their semesters in good shape, and are in TN with the family. Leah stays for the summer while Alex goes back to Gainesville next week to start an internship and summer classes...
Lastly, the house in Sunrise went up for sale three weeks ago and it sold in a week; we are currently working on small items found during the inspection and expect to close towards the end of this month.
