Back in September (pre-blog), I took a wonderful trip to Atlanta. The occasion: My friend Blen's wedding! I also got a chance to catch up with an old school chum. 
Twas such a 'bloggable' event, that I must include it now!
Kevin and I went to school together from like 2nd grade til h.s. graduation. I hadn't seen him since '97. We had a great time. We saw some of the downtown sights and ate at this cool restaurant, Gladys Knight and Ron Winans Chicken and Waffles. They had the bomb sweet tea/lemonade mix -- The Uptown! (I always get that at Chick-Fil-A, but it's always iffy. Tea's too bland, too strong, etc. But the Uptown was on point.) Also had sweet potato pie cheesecake. Now, I'm real picky 'bout my sweet potato pie, being from Arkansas and all, but Kevin swore it was the bomb. Oh....my... goodness. So many wonderful flavors mingling in my mouth. I had to contain myself since it was a public place, cause I'll start sounding downright obscene about something tasting that good, uhmming and ahhing and carrying on.
I also did lots of people-watching. So much to see that I've never seen before except on TV or movies. So many black men on motorcycles, a la Biker Boys, like every 15 minutes I'd see a new group of 'em going by. And dubs and spinners everywhere. And just so many black people, just doing the doggone thing. It was beautiful. I know some people clown Atlanta, talkin about seditty black folks or whatever. And maybe it'd be different if I lived there, I don't know, but I really liked it and look forward to going back again.
On Sunday was Blen and Agere's wedding. 
It started at 10am. Fortunately for Quel, but unfortunately for me, she was a bridesmaid. Unfortunate for me because I had to soak in the experience alone, and had nobody to elbow or point with or say "ohh how sweet or cool or [fill in the blank]". I rode with Billy, Quel's husband, but they separate the men from the women at the wedding, and plus he thinks I'm goofy, so he woulda been making fun of me instead of joining me in the oohing and aahing. Besides separating the sexes, they also make you take off your shoes. Glad I got that pedicure!! (Later, I thought I was gonna have to get crunk, cause my shoes were missing. And they were Coach, so it was bout to be on. But unbeknownst to me, somebody had moved them cause they were in the way. Ever seen that episode of Sex and the City when Carrie's Manolo's come up missing. It made me think about that.)
Oh before going any further, I should mention that Blen is Ethiopian and her religion is Ethiopian Orthodox Christian. I forget not everyone knows Blen, so the aforementioned customs may have seemed odd. Blen, Quel and I met in college, Christian Brothers University in Memphis. 
So we go back aways. (We formed a hiphop dance group, Fo' deep, but that's a story for another day.)
Anyways, this was my first Ethiopian Orthodox wedding. Many of her friends would check on me or ask, "Are you okay?" or "Is this weird for you?" But no, no, no. I felt so honored to be among the handful of Americans sharing in their traditional celebration. And it made me mourn for us as Black Americans with our loss of culture and tradition, because it was just so beautiful and rich, and it filled your soul. I can't really do it justice with words, so check out my photo album of Blen's wedding. One thing I will say is that their wedding made traditions make sense. E.g., what is the purpose of the wedding party? Well, with this wedding, there was no question. It was to celebrate the bride and groom. And they did so at every opportunity through song and dance and clapping, during the wedding, encircling the bride and groom, and several times at the reception that evening. You get a glimpse of the celebration HERE and HERE. It just made you happy.
Quel kept getting in trouble with the overseers of the wedding party -- not really in trouble, but they kept having to come get her cause we were trying to hang. Billy called me the 7th bridesmaid. Oh, he had jokes. Anyways, as Quel would say to sum up any event, "It was fun, though."
i sure hate i missed it, blen was gorgeous...
Posted by: terri | October 12, 2005 at 04:13 PM
Girl, I remember that episode of Sex and the City... you are crazy.. but I feel ya.
Beautiful Wedding!!! Wish I could have seen it.
Posted by: Cheronda | October 12, 2005 at 07:00 PM
Ok, ok, ok! wassup Summer!! I am digging the page. It has a nice flow to it.....kind of like a breeze.......... or should I say a "summer breeze", ha ha ha ha LOL!!!! Ok after that very obvious bite on your play on words ( I was feeling the pressure too Summer. I wanted my first comment on your blog to be memorable, LOL!!). Well holla at you later!
Posted by: Edmund | October 12, 2005 at 09:18 PM
Edmund, you are too cute. I feel all reunionish up in here.
Posted by: Quel | October 12, 2005 at 10:09 PM
*entering through tha (browser) window like bruhman from martin*
*walkin round lookin at tha pictures and furniture...doin a headnod and tiltin head to the side rubbin on my stomik*
'sup ... jus chillin...got it lookin real niiiice up in heah...
the first thang came to mind when i hit the site was ...
blog blog blog blog...blog...not blahblahblah blah blah...
lol .. so um... this will be a daily thang huh? ... alrightee then... you know you cant miss a day or else..peeps gone be on ya case...
wassup summer? ..naw, naw i mean fo' real ? ...what's up...WHAT..is ...UP ? ..where tha blog ?
then YOU git to say ... blog blog blog blog blog !!!...refresh ya page *as you scurry to update it* ...
*exitting tha (browser) window)*
Posted by: bruhman | October 14, 2005 at 02:58 AM
To Terri: Thanks for stopping by! Blen was gorgeous, wasn't she.
To Cheronda: Okay?! Very pleasant surprise hearing from you. Stop in again please!
To Nabz: I think you cracked under the pressure. Haha. Just kidding! Don't be a stranger.
To Bruhman: You are one of the smartest, funniest, most creative people I know. I'll keep posting just so you'll keep commenting.
Posted by: summer | October 16, 2005 at 11:12 PM
Summer, I loved reading your stuff and looking at Blen's wedding. It was so beautiful. Raquel's Mom
Summer, I loved reading your stuff, and looking at Blen's wedding pictures. It was so beautiful. Raquel's mom.
Posted by: Momma | October 28, 2005 at 12:32 AM