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Okay, so I’m really behind in my posts. With school well underway and a house with some order, I might just be able to write a few more entries. Then again, I’ve been doing a little more reading and the fall season of TV is upon us…I’ll try.
Before school started, Lawson planned a Catalina trip. It was a surprise. I was told I needed to bring a swimsuit and that was all the information I was provided. I did guess Catalina early on, but there was no way Lawson was going to confirm my suspicions. I’m not sure if I like surprises or hate them. All I know is that I hate when Lawson reminds me that I don’t know what is happening. I can easily forget about a surprise, but when he said, “I wonder if you’ll like it” I wanted to hit him. And I did. A few times.
Driving onto the 710 from the 405, I knew we were going to Catalina. I was excited to spend a day away with him. We entered the terminal and started heading to the Catalina Express line. At least that’s where I was heading. As we were walking, I pushed Lawson toward the line saying in probably not the nicest voice, “Where are you going? You’re supposed to enter over there.” Little did I know he was heading in the right direction. We were heading to the counter of the kiosk next to Catalina Express. We were going to take a helicopter ride to Catalina!
I was very excited. (I have a pretty cool husband!) Neither of us had been on a helicopter before and both of us had mentioned wanting to go when we were contemplating a honeymoon trip to Maui. Although the ride was very short, it was so cool to see the land and water below us.
Once there, we went kayaking. I liked sharing in another one of Lawson’s firsts–kayaking. It was very warm that day and the cool water felt fabulous. We took a leisurely 2 hour kayaking trip along the shoreline. It was very relaxing. I think my favorite part was seeing a sea lion swimming by. Lawson’s favorite site might have been a group of people doing their fantasy football draft aboard a boat out in the water. Maybe one day.
That day we also took a golf cart around the island. I was a little scared riding down some of the hills with Lawson behind the wheel–in no way was his driving bad, it’s just that I feared tipping over and the brakes were making a funny noise. When it was my turn to drive, I could barely do it. I had to sit so that maybe an inch of my rear-end was actually touching the seat so that I could reach the pedal.
We also spent the day going miniature golfing, shopping, playing air hockey, and eating. Lawson did a great job planning a fun day for us. Writing this reminds me that I am very lucky to have such a thoughtful husband. I think I’ll go find him and give him a hug.
Some girls go through that stage where they write their first name with every cute boy’s last name, imagining themselves becoming Mrs. So-and-So. I never really did that. However, I always thought my mom had it right when she gave me a Japanese first name, ensuring that no matter who my husband was, I would always have that connection to my Japanese heritage. I just assumed that I would change my last name as long as my husband wasn’t Mr. Toilet or Mr. Boring. Then when I had to make the decision for real, I wavered. A lot. It’s hard to give up something you’ve owned for twenty eight years. I have a hard enough time giving up a beloved sweater that is two sizes too small and fraying at the seams. I just couldn’t bring myself to say, “Yes, I will be Mrs. Wong” or “I’m not going to change my name”…
Those who know me, know I am incredibly indecisive. So what prompted me to make this major decision? Scissors. Yes, scissors. I was preparing my classroom for the new school year. I was putting together the boxes of supplies that go on each pod of desks. I had new scissors, and I needed to write my name on them. With a sharpie in my right hand and the scissors in my left, I froze. “What am I supposed to write?” I thought. After maybe thirty long seconds, I put down the sharpie and scissors and went to the office to ask what I had to do to change my name. I had made the decision, I wanted to be called Mrs. Wong.
I’m not sure when I will be able to fully own this name, but I’m sure it will happen…even if it does take twenty eight years.
We had a great time on our Costa Rican honeymoon. I think Lawson and I agree the canyoning was the most fun. We repelled down the face of waterfalls. Not Niagara falls or anything, but large enough to have a great time descending down and to get soaking wet. We also did a canopy tour–ziplining above the canopy of the rain forest. I loved sailing across the rain forest and seeing the tops of the trees beneath me, but I truly feared crashing into the tree that secured the end of the cable. I pictured the cartoons where the guy runs into the tree and falls spread eagle on the ground with stars circling his head…but, unlike the cartoon, I wouldn’t be getting up. There was also a Tarzan swing. Unfortunately, we didn’t bring the camera so you’ll have to create your own mental image (lucky you). Just picture Tarzan swinging from a vine. Now, instead of a vine, picture a rope secured to a tree. Now, instead of Tarzan, picture Lawson. Instead of a Tarzan cry, imagine Lawson yelling, “Yeah, baby.”
We shared in some firsts–first time to Costa Rica, first time rappelling, first time on a canopy tour, and first time riding ATVs.
It was also so neat to be there when Lawson experienced more firsts–first time snorkeling, first time sailing, and first time riding a horse. I actually didn’t know he hadn’t been ridden a horse until the end of our horseback riding trip, but I should have known from the start, when Lawson nearly flung himself off his horse, Rana, while trying to get on. Trust me, I wasn’t much more graceful on my tree/bush/hedge loving, but otherwise tame horse, Pajarito. Here are some highlights.
So the official beginning of the Matong story started on July 14, 2007, our wedding day! On a very hot day, our friends and family gathered at the Altadena Town and Country Club to witness us exchange our vows. Later, we celebrated with lots of hugs, dancing, and a lot of drinking.
My highlights: Seeing Lawson for the first time that day in front of the piano and being oblivious to everyone watching us. The ceremony. Marrying Lawson. Listening to people’s marriage advice and people threaten Lawson if he hurt me. Watching my mom dance–”elbows up, side to side.” Dancing with my dad. Hugging, not punching, my brother. The last dance where we danced with all of our friends and family who made it till the end. Reliving the day through pictures.
Others have said that your own wedding is so much more fun than any other wedding…it’s totally true. I told people to ask me after the wedding if the planning and stress was worth it. The answer is YES! Now, if you ask Lawson he might pause and think about my bridezilla moments (or as he likes to call my Bridezookie moments); but I think he, too, would say it was all worth it.
So to share with others and to help us remember our story, we have decided to start this blog.
