Monday, January 14, 2008

This weekend was a very nice one. I saw 2 friends get married in a Korean Wedding.




Danny and Min A. (Mina)

This was my first Korean Wedding ceremony and it sure was a very interesting one.

Me and Sef get their at about 1125. The Wedding starts at noon. So we see Danny, and I tell him, "I suited up for this wedding you are not running away from this at all"

We talk some more and them we meet his family. His Mom and Dad, their significant others. His Grandmother and Grandfather were their also. So I am sitting around and seeing more people that I know show up.

Now what was weird, at first, was that there was another wedding going on before their wedding and it was in the same hall that they were going to get married at. I had no idea what was going on at all, but I was in Korea, so just go with it.

After 12 P.M. we were told to get our seats and, of course, not enough chairs. I was able to sit down and I got a few nice shots of the wedding.

Both Moms in their Traditional Korean Outfits.
Danny
After the wedding.
The Bride, Mina.

Now the first picture are the mothers, the walked down the aisle in the traditional Korean Dress and they both lit a candle. It was so nice.

The next photo is of Danny, he looked awesome in his outfit.

#3 Is when they were walking back from the aisle as Man and Wife.

#4 is her at the end with her friends. I love that photo. It does her no justice, Mina was a very beautiful bride.

Then it started to get a little crazy. The preacher was Korean and he was trying to speak English also, he said Daniels wives. I started laughing, I Could not believe that Danny could have more than one wife. The preacher made a mistake but it sure was funny.

I had no idea when to pray or say Amen. All i know is that the preacher said that they are man and wife, the crowd cheered and clapped. Danny and Mina then walked over to her parents side and Daniel did the bow on the ground to her parents. I lated asked him did he have to bang his head on the floor, When you would great the Emperor of China you would have to bow and bang your head very hard on the floor many times, to show respect. Mina did a polite bow to Danny's parents. It was nice.

Then the next few minutes are what I called the "Wheels Off" part of the service.

After the bowing, they cut a cake together, later on I found out that the 2 bottom layers of the cake were fake and that they actually did not get to keep nor did they actually eat any of the cake. It was a photo op only.

After that they then walked down up the aisle, thats when a disco ball came out, with crazy music, and them streamers popped out and the crowd cheered. I had no idea what the heck was going on. i took the photo of them with the streamers.

Then the crowd was leaving and gathering in the back. I took the one close one of the bride, photo #4. It was a nice photo.

Me and Van

So when I went back to the back after the wedding i saw my friend Van, also suited up, I asked Heather to take a photo of me and Van because, you do not see either one of us in A suit that ofter, so the photo was a great shot of us together.

Then after that we started to take pictures of the family as they were getting together for the wedding photos. I talked to Danny's family and it was nice to get to know a little about them.

East Meets West
East meets West 2

The all of the couple friends gathered for a photo. I made the comment that it looked like a fracking Mafia photo. If I can ever get a copy of the photo I will be sure to post it.

Then we went to have lunch at the after-wedding buffet. I had never been to this also, but the food was good and the table I was with was nice and I had a good time for awhile.

I asked where were Danny and Mina, and the family, Someone said that they were eating by themselves and I knew that something was wrong with me so after my plate I excused my self and said goodbye and that i would see them tonight at 9.PM at the Cool Bar, for the reception party.

Right as I was leaving I see Danny's family finally coming down to eat. It looks like they were taking pictures the entire time. I said that I would see them later. Then I saw Danny, and he was wearing a Korean King outfit, I later learned, and I shook his hand and said congrats and said I will see you later. Then I saw Mina and talked to her, then something really funny happed while I was talking to her.

A Korea lady was talking to her in Korean and it was because Mina was not holding on to her dress the proper way and I was laughing while she was talking. Afterwards Mina hit he with a light tap, it was just too funny, then Danny came back and met Mina, She was asking were me and Paul going to the reception. They then went in together to the Buffet area. I was walking to the escalator when I saw her parents, they could not find anyone from the family, so I am frantically waving my arms and pointing them straight to the Buffet area, and said, They are all in the Food area." They both walk very fast towards the Buffet.

I knew that something was wrong with me and I knew that I needed to take a long walk and I did for awhile. I did some thinking and came up with a few things that I had not realized.

With wedding sometimes I am good or sometimes I am bad at them. I was noticing that I was feeling sorry for myself, because I am single and just not in a good mood and the wedding did not need that, I went for a walk. I was talking out loud to myself and trying to figure a few things out. I had been noticing over the last few weeks that I am becoming a mean drunk and this is not good. I then realized that I was lonely and that all of the love at the wedding was messing me up a little. I was feeling sorry for myself and it was not dong me any good, So I walked for while longer and said, "DAMN IT, NO MORE FRACKING FEELING SORRY FOR YOURSELF. Have some fun today"

So I went back to my apartment, played some nice music and took a nap. When I woke Up, I sure was feeling better.

So at 8PM, I took the Bus to McDONALDS and had a late dinner. As i was finishing up my food, I see Danny entire family waking down the street. I finish my food and I meet up with them.

Danny them tells me that he is wearing a Korean King outfit, so I bow and say "Your MAJESTY" His family starts to laugh. I tell them a few things about Korea and they asked a few questions, I told them about Hello Kitty and I have no idea about why Hello Kitty is so darn popular.

We then all walk towards the Cool Bar and the party starts.

I soon met Mina's father and I shake his hand and bow. We start to talk and then I found out that Curtis Porter, a former Woosong teacher, has finally proposed to his long time girlfriend (WAY OVER DUE CURT) For the rest of the night I kept telling all of the guys with girlfriends that this would be the perfect time to propose to your lady. Some of the looks I got was funny. I did hear from one person, that him and his girlfriend were already engaged, so congrats to them.

Then the fun started to happen. Danny's mom and grandmother needed to go to MCD'S so I took them their, I knew exactly where it was at. I took them their and after we left , I asked him mom to tell him that I took them both to a dirty singing room, that it would be a great joke and they both agree. So when the ladies get back, his mom tells him that i took them both to a dirty singing room, the look on their faces was priceless, I was Laughing and then his mom said, Mike asked me to tell you that. I KNOW IT WAS WRONG BUT IT SURE WAS FUNNY.

Then someone had the idea to make a wedding rule, whenever someone paid 5$ or 5,000 Won, the bell would ring and the couple would have to kiss. So the $ started to flow and I got some great shots of the couple Kissing. i even paid 10$ for them to kiss 2x,, I said that only 1 darn it, I paid for 2 so kiss her again! The bell ring all night and even while Danny was playing the drums.

Teachers play a great song

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So the band starts to play at the cool bar and they play some great songs, I am talking to Danny family and other people the entire time of the first set. After the second set it more bell ringing and more kissing.

While the band was on a break, van came over to where the family and I were sitting at, Grandpa asked Van to play a country song that night, so we were talking about one song and grandma said that she liked Charlie Pride. Well.. that stated all of us singing. "You never even called me by my name" SEE WORDS BELOW...............

Well it was all that I could do to keep from cryin'
Sometimes it seemed so useless to remain
But you don't have to call me darlin' darlin'
You never even call me by my name
You don't have to call me Waylon Jennings
And you don't have to call me Charley Pride
And you don't have to call me Merle Haggard anymore
Even though you're on my fightin' side
And I'll hang around as long as you will let me and I never minded standing in the rain
But you don't have to call me darlin' darlin' you never even call me by my name

Well I've heard my name a few times in your phonebook (hello hello)
And I've seen it on signs where I've played
But the only time I know I'll hear David Allan Coe
Is when Jesus has his final judgment day
So I'll hang around as long as you will let me and I never minded standing in the rain
But you don't have to call me darlin' darlin' you never even call me by my name

(Well a friend of mine named Steve Goodman wrote that song
And he told me it was the perfect country and western song
I wrote him back a letter and told him
It was not the perfect country and western song
Because he hadn't said anything at all about mama
Or trains or trucks or prison or gettin' drunk
Well he sat down and wrote another verse to the song and he sent it to me
And after reading it I realized
That my friend had written the perfect country and western song
And I felt obliged to include it on this album the last verse goes like this here)

Well I was drunk the day my mom got out of prison
And I went to pick her up in the rain
But before I could get to the station in a pickup truck
She got run'd over by a damned old train
And I'll hang around as long as you will let me and I never minded standing in the rain
But you don't have to call me darlin' darlin' you never even call me by my name.

SO HERE WE ARE IN DAEJEON KOREA, AT THE COOL BAR, SINGING THIS SONG. WHAT SURPRISED ME WAS THAT VAN KNEW IT ALSO. Grandpa asked Van to play a country song later in the evening.

After we stopped singing the song, I told Van that I had taught some of the foreign students that I went to school with back at UNT, that one night they wanted to learn some AMERICAN BEER drinking songs, so I took them to a bar and I played this song and the whole bar sang along to this song. If I had not actually heard us singing that song I would have not believed it at all.

THE FIRST OF MANY KISSES TOGETHER
My $ paid for this Kiss. I was so Happy.
Dan and His Brother Chris.
Me and Chris

Mina and Grandmother
Chris and His Wife
Grandma and Chris
Mina and Friend
Helen and Mom
Mina and Danny's Dad dancing together.

Danny Posing Korean
Helen, Grandma and Grandpa
Mother and Son
Grandma and Grandson
Grandma, Grandpa and Grandson.


Best Man Speech

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Now the above speech was earlier in the party it was time for his brother to give a real heart felt speech. Lets just say, its the same one I would give my brother James. I am told that Chris gave a real heart felt speech earlier but alas, no video. THE LOUD COMMENTS ARE MINE SO BLAME ME FOR THOSE!!!!


ITS HAMMERTIME!!!!

Later on the brothers both start to sing Ice ice baby. From what I was told, it looks like their mother introduced them to music very early and the boys sang IIB a lot when they were kids, Chris later admitted to having a pair of the HammerPants.




Now the above photo is what was going on while the photo was being taken. The bell had rung and they were kissing again and I got the shot. I was next to Danny's mom when I took the shot. I looked over at her and she was smiling and looked very happy. I leaned over and said to her, you are as light up as a Christmas tree. She was so happy for Danny and I knew that she loved both of them. I thought I was going to cry.

Well at about 1235 an announcement was made, we had killed all of the kegs of beer at the party. (we are not alcoholics, we do not go to meetings) The next day I talked to Charles and he said that he had ordered 6 kegs of beer, usually parties have 2-3. I looked at him and I said, with the crowd that we had their 9 might have worked. They were small kegs of beer, If it would have had been in the USA i WOULD HAVE ORDERED 3 big Coors Light ones.

I told Van that I had told some of the younger men, that this night, you would remember, you would remember it as a good day and that their was love.

Grandpa and Grandma Kiss
Grandpa speech of love for the couple
Danny's dad speech of love for the couple
Couple saying thank you to the party
Dad and Son saying I love you.

Grandparents hug their grandchild.
mom and Mina say goodnight.
As the couple leaves.
Mom listening to speeches
Goodnight everybody.

Now the band was playing some great music, I was even dancing Russian with Sasha and I just picked it up by following her led, I then added a Texas twist to it and we were dancing. It was some great music.

As the band was winding down, I reminded Van about Grandma and Grandpa wanting to hear a country song. So Van tels Danny, who is the drummer in the band also, that Grandma and Grandpa want a country song. They play "Folsom Prison Blues" by Johnny Cash and then the Grandparents dance and the crowd went wild.

Later on it was time for the couple to leave, or as I said, make grand babies time. Paul gave a nice speech then Grandpa gave a great Speech and then Danny father gave a great speech. When they were hugging and saying goodbye to family I was taking as many shots as I could. I got some great photos.

It was a night with love and it was awesome.

I, earlier in the evening, had told Danny Mom that I would get her a copy of all 200+ photos that I had taken, I did that today and they were very happy, so if you were there can you please give me a cd of all of the photos and I can put all of them together so they can pass them out to his family.

IT WAS A NIGHT OF CELEBRATION OF LOVE BETWEEN 2 PEOPLE. MAY YOU BOTH LIVE LONG AND PROSPER.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Good to see your post quoting "You Never Even Call Me by My Name" by Steve Goodman. He often doesn't get his due. You might be interested in my new 800-page biography, "Steve Goodman: Facing the Music." The book delves deeply into the genesis of "You Never Even Call Me by My Name," debunking the notion that David Allan Coe had anything to do with triggering the writing of the song's final verse. Please know that the book's first printing just sold out, all 5,000 copies, and the publisher has authorized a second printing that probably will be out in late February. To sign up to be notified about the availability of the second printing, visit my Internet site (below) and click on the "online store" page. Just trying to spread word about the book. Feel free to do the same!

Clay Eals
1728 California Ave. S.W. #301
Seattle, WA 98116-1958

(206) 935-7515
(206) 484-8008
ceals@comcast.net
http://www.clayeals.com