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203. Two hundred and three. That’s how many items were comfortably nestled in my junk e-mail box after I neglected to check it for six days while on vacation. 203. I returned from a wonderful trip to 203 separate e-mails, insisting under no uncertain terms that I am in desperate need of everything from generic Viagra to breast implants (huh?) to penile extension (“Impress her with your huge tool,” according to the subject line) to a university diploma (as if my real one weren’t useless enough). Two hundred and three. What I find most ridiculous about spam is that now, instead of trying to trick you into looking at porn by using subject lines like “Why haven’t you called me?” or “Re: Your account,” they just come right out and offer “Naked college girls banging their daddies.” Not only that, but other spammongers have gotten the hint that porn sells, so naturally, they now use porn to entice you to read their sales pitches for other shit! For example, loan officers employing subject lines like “18-year-old sluts in action” in an attempt to ensnare you into refinancing your home or auto insurance companies luring you in by guaranteeing “She’ll beg you for more!” There you are, opening an e-mail promising all sorts of vulgarity and instead finding an offer for debt consolidation. How disappointing.
Back to my vacation, the focal point of which was my brother’s lovely wedding. The entire trip was positively magical in every way. Nothing like being surrounded by family and friends for six straight days in the near-idyllic setting of Arcata, California, against a backdrop of blue skies and stunning, ancient redwoods so tall we were left with sore necks from gazing up at them in awe. Six days of fresh ocean air, cool temperatures, laidback locals and the unabashed joy of driving on tree-lined, open roads with no traffic, no gridlock and no horn-honking. And I'll be damned if this little town of 15,000 weren't blessed with radio stations infinitely superior to those clogging the airwaves in New York and Los Angeles.
The wedding itself was spectacular; a perfectly sunny day for an intimate gathering of family and friends, one of the warmest and most joyous occasions I have ever been privileged to attend. Never had I witnessed so much love and warmth in one room before (true, the wedding was outside, but you get the picture). Both the bride’s father and my grandmother gave beautifully moving speeches during the ceremony, leaving almost no one immune to misty-eyedness. Later came my own toast, which, I'm proud to say, embarrassed my younger brother only slightly while simultaneously exuding more love than most siblings can muster for one another. That was followed by an amusing toast by my uncle Steve, who managed to make both my brother and my mom blush madly while giving the rest of us a hearty giggle. And of course, there were some fascinating, highly memorable conversations taking place between different people throughout the evening, under varying levels of sobriety.
While I can’t deny I experienced some measure of sadness missing a certain someone and thinking he should have been there with me, what struck me most profoundly during the wedding and days leading up to it was how extraordinarily and immeasurably lucky I felt as a woman to have such a loving, warm and compassionate (albeit often demented) family. I was incredibly touched and overwhelmed by the surprising number of people -- both close friends and new acquaintances -- who approached me, overflowing with compliments about my family and how unique and magnificent we are. It was so lovely to hear kindly praise of my parents and my brother and sister, a testament to me as the oldest sibling (wink, wink). And it moved me that Amir and Erin have such lovely friends to embrace so warmly those family members they'd never met.
Several guests even moved me to tears, admiring the affection and laughter that exists amongst my close family and gushing about how special we are. In conferring with my mother later, I was even more touched to learn how many people approached her and complimented her three bright, kind and unique children. Never have I felt so proud of who I am and the family that surrounded me with so much warmth and love. I have a tremendously happy brother, a darling new sister-in-law and a fabulous new extended family. I am unequivocally blessed.
Posted by ayelet at September 5, 2003 12:40 PM