My friend Joyce in Houston commented the one major issue people complain about is loneliness. All single people have this in common. Getting married changes your loneliness to togetherness, if you marry the right person. I attended my first Chinese wedding with my boss and her husband. The groom was his cousin.

The wedding was in Yixing at the local Howard Johnson Motel in the grand ballroom. It was a festive luncheon attended by all the family and closest friends. The bride dressed in a lovely white gown entered with her dad and walked a long catwalk to meet her husband at the end holding her bouquet. An emcee narrated the event with the mayor making a long speech. The parents came to the stage and the couple bowed and spoke to them then turned to the audience in tears. A giant helium dirigible with “I LOVE YOU” in red floated over our heads toward the groom. A red scroll unrolled to reveal a box with the rings. They exchanged rings. They poured neon water into a tube that spelled LOVE and alias they were married. A lovely lunch, gifts for all, cigarettes, and many toasts. The emcee gave out large stuffed animals if you came forward and sang songs Karaoke style. The bride and groom strolled around, visiting and toasting milk. She changed into a lovely red dress and off they went. We were invited back for the second version, the dinner wedding but we made excuses and left for home.

A toast to the bride and groom, no more loneliness.