thomsen.

The tiniest details should be the very moments that one should remembers. For it is these memories that will last forever in our minds and within our hearts. After arriving to the apartment, I learned that the future groom still had some last minute errands to do. Not only that, but one of his bride’s cousin still needed to do some last minute shopping for the wedding. After a quick snack/light dinner, we met up with them outside of the apartment complex.

In front of us, there waited a 1986 Honda Accord with the groom, his bride cousin and the groom brother. I quickly recognized the groom in the front seat and quickly entered the back seat of the car. The groom introduced me to the bride cousin and from there, we set on to get business done: a professional trim.

The drive took about half an hour, but according to the groom, it was worth the drive since the guy that done his trim before did such a good job that when he told him that he was getting married that he’d love to do it again for him. What we all didn’t realized was just how good this guy was until we got there. Of course, the groom went first. So while we waited, three of us decided to check out the local area to see if there was any liquor stores around for the second bachelor party for that night.

Two obvious truth were discovered: Liquor stores are never open on Sundays and because of Washington State Law, major distribution stores such as Fred Meyers, Safeway, etc, were forbidden to sell hard liquor.

Bummer.

We headed back to the Barber Shop. I must say that I was extremely impressed with the work they did on the groom, so impressed that I decided to get one for myself. I believe, at that point, that there was no question, without a doubt, that I would be attending the wedding. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of what I had looked like prior to the trim, but if I had done so, you would of totally noticed the significant changes afterwards and you know what? I looked good :-)

Next, we went to several stores to get last minutes stuff that I do not really want to go into details about since, well, it’s meaningless.

Remember, this is about the tiny, important memories that you want to remember.

Thus, after all the last minute shopping, the groom had to drop off some ‘important, critical’ items at a friends’ place. On the way there, well, let’s just say that the groom had a few surprises up his sleeves for his buddies! Taking the poor Honda Accord (remember, it’s old!), up to 50 mph in a 30 mph zone and then deciding to turn off the headlights in a area with no lamps on the road! (Note: we did tell him to slow down and reminded him that he was going to get married the next day!) You know what? I’m just glad I had my seatbelt on and there was a handlebar that I could hold onto for dear life! But, after that we dropped off the ‘items’, he decided to go into a church parking lot and do some major burning of the tires (now, that was fun since we were going in circles!)!

Good memories.

Zooming through the parking garage, zipping past parked cars, my mind watched the variety of colors of cars pass by, my eyes slowly turned to the left to the front of the car and in front of us, large grey bricks seems to become larger and larger by the minute. My eyes started to widen ever more slowly. He jerked the car to the right and slammed on the brake, the loud squealing of the brakes echoed in my left ear, and within that moment, I took a breath and sighed with relief.

The rest of night flowed beautifully.

Plenty of beers. A good long heart to heart talk with a close friend. Three to four hours of Call of Duty on Xbox. Losing. Twice. Blame it on heavy intoxication.

Passed out.

It is these memories that will last forever in our minds and within our hearts.

An chance to live life. An opportunity. Should be not taken for granted. Every single day. Without regret.

That should be the goal for every human being in the world.

Today, I got to witness one of the most amazing experiences every human being should experience.

The ability for two people to share with their friends and family the beginning of a new life.

An experience when two hearts come together on a special day to become one.

I had the honor, at the last possible minute, without any previous knowledge, to attend one of my closest friend’s brother wedding.

At first, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to go, but a day after the conference, yesterday, I met up with one of my closest friends in Seattle, WA along with his adorable family. On the waterfront, outside Starbucks, for the last time while I was in Seattle, sipping my Passion Iced Tea Lemonade, my phone rang and I was notified that they were being the pink tour bus. I gathered my laptop bag and walked behind the pink bus. Within a second later, a green Toyota van approached. He jumped out of the car and got reacquainted.

Ten minutes later, we pulled into the Seattle Mariners parking garage and headed over to SafeCo Field. At first, we weren’t sure we would  be able to get tickets because an hour earlier I had gone online to see if I could be able to purchase online; after searching, all tickets were no longer being sold online since most ticket agencies tend to close the venue either one or two hours before the venue starts. Nevertheless, as we approached the ticket booth, I was quite pleased to discover that there were plenty of tickets and got four tickets for everyone (kids under 3 is free!).

I must say that the staff are terrific when it comes to making sure that families are accommodated. As we walked to the line to enter into the gate, we were approached by a staff member that allowed us to enter through a different gate since we had three kids with us. The staff were so good…they were getting spoiled by baseball cards! Gate 329. That’s where our seats were, so while my friend took the kids to get a quick restroom break, I entered the gate a spoke to an pleasant gentleman who appeared to be well past his prime. He gave me some excellent advice as to check at the guest services to check in my friend double stroller and then since it was the kids very first game, that they would create a memorabilia to commemorate their first baseball game, free of charge!

San Diego Padres vs. Seattle Mariners. Honestly, as I write this I still have no idea who won. When we left in the top of the eighth inning, the Seattle Mariners were ahead by two. As much as I love the game of baseball, normally, I would of stayed until the game ended, but this was far from normal circumstances. Three kids. One three. One two. One six months. They were bound to become a nuisance for the parents; besides, they’re just doing what kids are suppose to do. Nevertheless, we decided to leave early since the kids needed to sleep and my friend had some major responsibilities as the Best Man for the wedding.

Bellevue, Washington.

From what I’m told, the most famous person in Bellevue, Washington is Bill Gates. Not is only the most famous person, but most likely, the most richest man in Bellevue, and for sure, one of the most richest man in the world. Now if you did not know that, well, for sure you learned one new thing by reading this blog. I’ll admit, I had no idea that Bill Gates resided in Bellevue, Washington, since most of his work has been done in Seattle, Washington, but I did know that he, for a long time, has been one of the richest men in the world. Plus, I’ve always been a big fan of his since college because of my background working with computers.

Forty-five minutes later, I was in an apartment with my friend’s family, the future bride-to-be, and with two other bridesmaids. What conspired in the next twenty-four hours turned out to be an adventure that I would never forget.