This past weekend Jordyn and I took a last minute trip up to Oakland/Napa. Can I first start by saying that I HATE road trips and as if it wasn't bad enough having to drive 6 hours into boredom, we drove up in a sardine can that literally was NOT made for Samoans. If you can picture it, a small little Asian girl (my BFF), my little big mama (Jordyn), and then a woman on her way to heffalump status (that would be me) all squeezed into a....wait for it.......A VW RABBIT! WTF!?!?! The car was surprisingly spacious but that's besides the point because we had to squeeze all of this lovin, into what seemed to resemble a black compact mirror with wheels. I didn't drive, THANK YOU JESUS, Kathy did (the BFF).
The purpose of our trip was to visit my godparents and bring all of our love and support to help out with my godfather's fundraiser luau. To bring you up to speed, my godfather who I prefer to call Uncle because its shorter and that's just how I roll...has been diagnosed with MSA (Multiple System Atrophy). In short, its an incurable degenerative disease that affects the nervous system. My uncle (godfather...stay with me) is such a strong and loving man. He is the closest thing I have ever had to a father and Id like to consider myself my aunt and uncle's practice daughter before the actual daughter, my cousin (god sister) was born. My uncle Tino is soo well known and loved in the community and the family put on this GINORMOUS fundraiser luau to raise $25,000 to pay for my aunt, uncle, and his sister to fly to Germany for a stem cell procedure that would hopefully, god willing, prolong his life. It was as if the entire city was there, loving him, supporting him, enjoying life with him. I think it was like 300 tickets sold and man, the place was packed. He loved every minute of it and I was in awe at how one man has touched so many different people, in all walks of life.
The luau was a total success with a celebrity in the house, Samson Satele from the Raiders, a trip to stay in a condo in Maui, wine raffles, and a silent auction. Not only did the fundraiser raise enough money but a few thousand more! Now if that's not God working in his divine way, I don't know what is. The money is more than enough to cover their trip and surgery and I'm looking forward to seeing them all when they return.
So we were there, and then we weren't there. Totally gone with the blink of an eye. No sleep, my feet were barkin, sweating like a whore in a confessional, and all with a smile on my face and love in my heart. I LOVE MY FAMILY, even if we aren't blood related...WE ARE FAMILY and I will do anything for them. On another note: the drive home was like driving through hell in a hand basket and I hated every second of it. Thankful for the friends and family I have in my life and for those that truly mean the world to me, so with that...I leave you with another gold nugget:
SILENCE IS GOLDEN, BUT DUCK TAPE IS SILVER
Real Daughter, Practice Daughter, UNCLE TINO
Jaime, ME, Aunty Lynn
The setup
My godparents aka Uncle Tino & Aunty Lynn
My twin and I
Got Pork?
The BFF Kathy and I (already sweating like a whore in a confessional)
Serving up some mac salad (Jordyn and Ashley)
Me and my baby love
Our last meal together before heading out
For more pictures check out my Facebook
I bid you adieu ~
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