Late and Early

From Rhonda:
We're back. We could not post yesterday because the day was far too long. I thought there were only 24 hours in a day......but since we left home there have only been extended days. Yesterday morning we got up and went off to breakfast. We found that we are only a block from a mall. Not much was open and we needed to get going since the wedding was at one and we would have at least an hour ride to get there. Not only that but we still had to work on making the broom for Carol and Sean to jump. The night before, after a long hard day of working on the hall for the reception, we went to Nkem's and Sean's to get material to decorate the broom handle and broom straws. Again we did not see our hotel until after 1 am. Since everything in London is priced (in lbs) but the dollar is only half the value, we could not find anything to add to the broom. Seko wanted to get a shave (those were 10 lbs at the local shop). Once you do the math, its about $20. He could forget it. We are, after all Broke in Britain. We headed back and by the time we finished the broom were only an hour from the wedding time. This meant, as usual, we were late.

Finally dressed, we headed to the Queensway station where we get on the Tube to go to the receptions site.

(Drum roll please).


It was closed!!!!!!!!!

We had to walk two blocks back to the other station which meant we had to choose another route. On we hopped. Hope never dies. I thought maybe the wedding would be a few minutes late. We ended up not only having to change underground trains once, but once on the surface (above ground) train we had to make another change to get to Elverson Road.

Here's the other trigger- we don't have walking directions from the train station.

Once off the train, we are about an hour and a piece late. By now we are trying to get to the church before everyone leaves for the reception. At least we'll be there. I was so upset that the bride and groom could not jump the very broom we spent part of the night and half the morning creating.

All the way to London just to miss the wedding. I could just sit on the curb and cry.

Once off the train we can hear the church bells ringing and see the steeple off in the distance. With the bells ringing we pick up the pace and rely on a mother pushing a pram and a woman walking passed to provide directions. Now we are hot, late, and rushing uphill to get to the church before everyone is gone.

There it is just up ahead. Someone must be leaving.......she's opened her van door.

We spot on of Carol's friends and Seko asks her for a ride to the reception. She agrees but has one stipulation.......

She is leaving right after they say "I do". You guessed it. The wedding had not begun. The bride was not even at the church. God was looking out for a couple of notoriously late folks. How often does someone arrive an hour and a half late for a wedding and still see the whole thing. Not only were we an hour and a half late....we were a hour and a half early. Confused?

The bride did not get to the church and the wedding start for an hour and a half after we got there. Seko's Aunts and Uncle had been at the church since 12:30pm. This 1:00pm wedding started at 4:00pm. Another 2 hours and the Rev could not have preformed the ceremony. She has to stop preforming weddings by 6:00pm according to the laws of the Church of England. Whew, that was close.

All in all... it was worth the wait. Sean smiled so hard we could have counted each of his teeth. Carol was beautiful in an overlayed dress that fit her and her personality wonderfully. Best of all the broom has been jumped, the Laws and Customs performed and the registry signed.
We have a new Varner Girl. Welcome to the club Carol!!!! (Photo of Carol & Sean signing the wedding document during the Church of England ceremony. Below: Photo of the wedding document.)

Soul Folk

"A black figure was carved on the plinth on the south side of Nelson's Column in Trafalgar Square. The man is unidentified, but may be one of the nine West Indians who were listed on board the Victory at the battle. They include Jonathan Hardy, 25, an ordinary seaman, John Thomas, 23, a Jamaican landsman, or John Francois, 32, an ordinary seaman. George Ryan, 24, also was listed as 'African".

From Seko:

London is the home of America's mother tonue, english. Yet London holds so many signs of the Motherland. In Trafalgar Square, directly in front of the counsulate for Uganda, Africa is a reflief with an image of an African descendant. Britain was the first country to become involved with the enslavement of Africans although Chattel Slavery never occured in London. The Brits just sold enslaved Africans to everyone else. The Brits, when abolishing enslavement initially only made it illegal to transport the enslaved on British vessells. Decades later they stopped enslavement in British teritories. Britain has a long history of single African descendants in London's classical history - Britain also has very vibrant communities of Africans, both Africans proper and African descendants. Thousands of Carib' so-called Blacks, thousands of continental Africans, and Black Brits color the landscape of London. Thousands of multi-racial folks add vibrancy to London. And the Mother-continental motif is well embraced here.

The impressive and historical Harrods of London has an area and an entire stairwell/liftwell is decorated in an Kemetian (Egyptian) motif. I was sure that the renderings would show the time period in Kemet's history when it was overtaken by Assyraians & Europeans which have the "White" looking royalty....................Surprised to say the Harrods which is being Chaired by an Egyptian (his son Dodi was killed in the car crash with Princess Diana) has renderings of both the "White Egyptians" and predominately those Kemites who demonstrate Nubian features. A tribute to both Princess Diana & The Egyptian Dodi is on the 1st floor of the store (See photo).

Classical African civilization being used to sell Gucci, Prada, and other high end Euro-fashion designers. Gotta' love it. I was knocked out. In addition, the story of Harrods is something of note. I was amazed. I wasn't able to afford anything in Harrods, but the experience inspired me. I'll be able to splurge on my next trip to Harrods, although I won't splurge. I just will be in the financial position to splurge.

The Britgerians (My term for British born Blacks of Nigerian heritage such as my new cousin Carol !) are everywere. Ibo and Yourba languages are spoken everywhere. They are some of the most beautiful women (after the Wifey) I have ever seen. I have been surrounded by so many Africans in London I began to wonder if the first became last and we have entered the time where the last will become first. Africans from North Africa and Ethopia were everywhere as well in addition to the Arab descedants who have taken over/moved into/became a part of North Africa and define themselves as North African. There are also many soul-folk from Pakistan, the (so-called) Middle East, and a good contingency of Asian people here.

On our last night in London the Wifey and I stumbled on a club owned by Arthur Baker, an early staple in classic New York Hip-Hop. His DJ was a young white bloke playing some of the most funky music I've ever heard. Upon asking about track that repeated "Afro Riddims" I find out that this group is a 'Dutch' group from Norway named Afro Soul System........ A group of funky white dudes promoting black culture.... Gotta' love it...... Go buy their album !

There is so much from Africa here that I can't place it all in one post. I know this; those of us who left Africa took her with us. What a beautiful thing. (photo of a Cola Nut presentation during the wedding reception....African culture in London ! O.K...... She's from Africa & He's from America (My other cuz'n Walt) They're both Soul-folk !)

Look Higher

From Seko:

Sean met and married the woman of his dreams. Upright, passionate, determined, and African. I'm sure it's hard to tell who is from a Nigerian family, and who is from a predominately European culture by the photo. Sean has had a 'thing' for women from the Mother continent for a minute. He looked at me at the reception and said "Man, I got everything I asked God for; She's upright, passionate, determined, and African. God is good Cuz'n, God is good." Sean's nuclear family wasn't able to make it to the wedding. Sean talked about his family frequently stating that he was basically was the father-figure for four of his siblings. He shared with me that he felt like a peice of him remained in the states. Our aunt (his Mum) suddenly wasn't able to obtain her passport (she lives in Washington D.C.) and none of his nine siblings were able to attend. Although we were all notified of the event a year ago, London is a bit of a distance from the U.S.......... However, I think this wedding has shown me that it's truly not the distance to your goal, but how one views hills. Sean has always been able to see a hill and say "I'm sure it's worth the climb." Growing up in a large family in the soulful comfort of Urban life, Sean always wanted more. He long ago removed the "hood" from covering his head and allowed the rain to wash his head. Sean took a chance. He moved to another country and wasn't able to work for 6 months as England wouldn't allow him to work legally until after marriage and 6 months of residency. Marrying a Britt isn't easy. Sean left with only a suitcase as his belongings. As we prayed during the ceremony, and at the reception, the small contingency from the U.S. prayed for Sean's family, our family. Sean's far from perfect...yet......he has learned how to look high. May his life be a beacon and a bright-tower to encourage his family, our family, your family......... to look high. Quick, tell ya' partner "look higher".

The begining: Seko & Rhonda 9/20/2007

Rhonda Lenette Foreman marries Benjamin-Seko Eric VArner 09 / 20 / 1997.