Bjorn and Jennifer’s wedding was wonderful. The bride looked lovely in her gorgeous beaded gown with a corset back. My nephew, the groom, scrubbed up well and appeared spiffy in his navy blue jacket and khaki pants. The groom and bride had three groomsmen and three bridesmaids respectively. Family and friends were well represented.

With a backdrop of mountains and rolling green hills, Tiffany’s in Maleny, Queensland was an idyllic venue. It was perfectly decorated. I especially liked the white rose petals that carefully lined the floor along the pews in the chapel. I also liked  the pastel floral decoration in the reception hall. The mood was buoyant. Love was in the air. The vows exchanged were so genuine it made my heart smile happily. The wedding ticked all the boxes. Simply beautiful. The newlyweds danced to Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’, making it completely perfect and happy.

The happy feeling started when my family – my mum, two sisters and I boarded the plane from Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane. Banter and a sense of familiar togetherness. Nice. It’s very unusual for the four of us to travel together. The last time we did was when we went to Paris Disneyland many years ago. Once again, the four of us were travel mates. And, for a very special occassion.  

For me, it was a pleasure and privilege to have been a part of On and Jenn’s wedding – an official announcement and unforgettable milestone – in every couple’s lives. Of my 11 nieces and nephews, only four live in Malaysia. On is not one of them. I don’t really know him very well. But I have always felt he is my kindred spirit.

I first met him when he was three. His mother, my sister, brought his older brother, Francois and him to attend our brother’s wedding in Kuala Lumpur. He left a lasting impression on me with his adoring obsession with Gumby. Every chance and every time, he wanted Gumby played for him on the VCR player. It was such that when I saw him tottering towards me, I knew it was Gumby time. Gumby is a dark green clay character from an American animation franchise.  I don’t remember Gumby being popular in Malaysia but the slanty-head hero and his sidekick, Pokey, a talking orange pony, managed to captivate him endlessly. With just one TV in the living room, it pretty much ruled out anyone else watching anything else on the telly.  I don’t think the other family members minded. At the time, the youngest amongst his four other cousins, who were also attending their uncle or mama’s wedding, he was too cute and too polite to refuse.

On has visited us, sporadically, over the years.  And, we have made a few trips to visit him and his family, who then lived just outside Sydney. At most, the visits totalled some seven times over the last three decades.  What I know of and about him, I liked and continue to like. To me, he is the epitome of ‘What you see is what you get’. Pretty much a straight shooter. Black and white, and all that. And, remarkably easy to get along with.

I can relate to that. I am like that or most of me was like that when I was younger. I was sure of my black from white about people, issues and arguments. Colour blindness has crept up with age. Black and white have given way to shades of grey. Older and wiser or so I like to think, I am more mindful of people’s feelings and a little tired of pointing out what is, at least to me, blindingly obvious. No matter.  

On and I also share a similar enthusiasm for all things sweet. It’s special to like, to talk about and to enjoy with relish, desserts with my nephew. I remember fondly a dessert crawl we had during one of his visits to Kuala Lumpur. I do my best to buy him Pandan cake with layers of cream, a local favourite of his, whenever I can. Some years ago, after a meeting, I walked in the rain to Avenue K to buy Pandan cake for On. By the time I got home, my shoes were ruined and I looked a mess. The upside was he had the cake for breakfast before he flew home the next morning. This trip, I brought along six Pandan swiss rolls.

On and Jenn’s wedding is the 6th of the second generation in my family. There will be more weddings to attend in the future, for sure. In 2019, On and Jenn’s wedding is my happy highlight. Very nice.