[grown 'n sexy]

It happened a ways back, but I am finally getting to this post.

I did it. I married the love of my life and am on my way to being a (fake-lightweight) grown-ass man. There is no doubt in my mind that this was the best day of my life. Surrounded by friends, family, loved ones, allies (and caterers), Emalyn and I made a commitment to each other that contradicted what I believe to be many people’s feelings about this world. There exists a multitude of hopelessness in this life, and when one wittnesses two people pledging to love, respect and support each other for the rest of their existence, these feelings are challenged. I know my hopelessness was challenged this day, and I could tell by the looks on my loved ones’ faces, that theirs were too (they also told me “damn blud, you and Em give me hope for the future again!”). =P

["Look! New Kids on the Block and Danity Kane got a new video, blud!"]

To me, one of the most special things about this day, was that my Bachan (pictured right, below) was in attendance. For those of you who didn’t know, she passed away the very next night right in front of my family and I, all the time reminding us how much she loved us. As her eldest grandson, I felt we had exchanged gifts that weekend. Her hanging on to see Emalyn and I married, and I giving her a reason to hang on that much longer. Emalyn and I moved in with her during the last year of her life when things were the most difficult for her, and while it was very hard to see her fiery soul trapped inside this cage of an old body, I am eternally greatful for the time I had living with her. Even when she was in trememendous pain, she always smiled everytime I came into her room to check on her.

[Stuntin' like my Grannies...]

For those of you who were not in attendance during the ceremony, I thought it’d be a good idea to drop a few things into this post so you feel some of what went on that day. I am including in this post, the wedding vows that Emalyn and I wrote together and read to each other:

I promise to love, honor, respect, support and cherish you for the rest
of my life.
I promise to rub your feet, massage your back and hear you cry when days
are long and difficult.
I promise to continuously support your growth and individuality as we
progress through life together.
My love is not based on material posession but based on respect,
devotion, selflessness and resilience.

I continue to offer you the bond of friendship and a lifetime of
unconditional love
I will always stand beside you and encourage you to pursue your hopes
and dreams and to overcome your fears, disappointments, and
frustrations.
I will always remember that the world is not perfect and that we are not
perfect.
I embrace your imperfections and recognize that it is these
imperfections that make us truly human and unique as individuals.

As we continue this partnership, I look forward to beginning a family
with you and creating new life in a world that can take the blessings of
this world for granted.
I will always remember that I own this partnership but not this person.
As we unite together in marriage, I recognize that we are not only two
individuals coming together, but the coming together of many cultures,
languages, beliefs, customs, traditions, and histories.
I will always continue to honor, love and respect your family members as
my own, sharing in the joys and burdens of our collective lives.

I will remind you to never sweat the small stuff. I will remind you that
it’s all “small stuff.”
I anxiously await the hours, days, weeks, months and years of laughter
together, and the tears of joy that come when we bring Filipino,
Spanish, Japanese, Scottish, German, Native American babies into the
world.
I will hold your hand at Warriors games, share popcorn with you at Will
Ferrell movies, dance with you at parties, and talk with you late into
the night about nothing at all, as we continue to love, support and
welcome friends and family into our lives.

I will remember both our insignificance, as well as our vast potential
in this world as we wander through the rest of our lives together. I
love you Colin Masashi Ehara/Emalyn de la rama Lopez.

I’d like to thank OUR PARENTS, our extended families, our entourage (best men, maidens of honor, wittnesses, groomsmen, bridesmaids), Rev. Debbie Lee, the Wake familia (Amanda, Steve and Barbara), DJ Joedobo, Tilden Park in Berkeley and a kazillion other folks who helped to make this day as beautiful as it was.

[multicultural rainbow coalition mafiosos =P]

["the mamas and papas"]

[stueyness that would NOT rival that of the evening time... wow.]

August of 2008 was a great time in Amerikan history to get married. While currently under mad scrutiny, Gay/Lesbian/Bi/Transgenedered/Queer brothers and sisters are legally allowed to marry one another at this very moment. Emalyn and I made a point throughout the ceremony to never use the words “man,” “wife,” “husband,” “bride,” etc. and instead inserted the term “parnter/s” into the slots these forementioned words would normally fall. Afer pronounced “Colin and Emalyn, united in marriage,” Rev. Debbie Lee turned to Emalyn and said: “Emalyn, you may now kiss your groom.” Contradiction my people, is so critically necessary.

For those of you who didn’t see it (or were too faded at the after-party to notice), here is our slideshow (THANK YOU MATEO!!!):
pt. 1

pt. 2

AND…

["Where Em&Colin Happens..."]

If you’d like to see more pictures of the wedding AND our HONEYMOON in the Fiji Islands, click HERE.

Thank you so much to our respective communities. Keep fighting for love & contradicting the bullsh*t in your life that just doesn’t make any sense. This is for you Bachan. Rest in Peace.

“Those who are dead, are NOT dead, they’re just LIVING in my head…”
-Chris Martin (Coldplay)

I f*cking LOVE you, Emalyn. Thank you baby.
Senbei

[Senbei in Fiji having a convo with his Bachan]