The New Family

So D1's future brother in law Bob and his wife Vera invited Wifey and I to their apartment for Shabbat dinner. We had met them a few times before, but hadn't seen them since D1 and Joey became engaged.

So we drove to Midtown, and searched, in vain, for a parking spot. I finally relented and valeted the car -- $22 for three hours. Miami is SO becoming like Manhattan...

We visited D1 and Joey's place, and heard tales of their monumental Pottery Barn couch fail. and then walked down to the 10th floor for the dinner. Bob and Vera have an amazing place -- 3 bedrooms, with floor to ceiling glass, and views of the Design District to the north, Miami Beach and Biscayne Bay to the East, and Brickell/Downtown to the South. Wifey's eyes grew large with wonder -- she wants to move to a more citified place than our leafy suburb.  Not yet, for me.

Bob is an executive with Zumba, and Vera is a research scientist at the U. She is a Peruana, and her Mom Susie came -- a delightful lady who is a baker -- owned a gourmet shop in Lima. Her second husband Rick is a gringo Jew like us -- originally from Richmond, Va, and a tax lawyer now in town -- 69, with grown kids, one of whom was D1's camp counseler at the JCC.

Bob and Joey's youngest brother Alan was there, too. He works for a US media company's LAtin American HQ in Coral Gables -- he's the one non Cane -- he went to USC in LA.  The proud Mom of the three boys was there, too, beaming.

In short, it was one of the warmest, sweetest nights Wifey and I have ever shared. Joey's family made us their own, immediately. Bob took me aside and said after he met D1, he prayed she would become "his sister." D1's future mother in law toasted, and said she has three wonderful sons, and now TWO wonderful daughters, too.

The talk turned to excitedly planning the wedding -- next September. D1 came to a sad realization: our rabbi likely would NOT permit her beloved spoiled Spaniel to attend the ceremony. But Madeleine will understand, I think, even though it's blatant dogism...

Will their be squabbles and issues in the future -- broigis as the Yiddish language calls it? Of course. But my heart tells me Joey's family and our tiny one will merge beautifully.

D2's boyfriend is in Miami visiting his parents. He'll be over at D1 and Joey's tomorrow, for a party.  He'll know several of the Latin Jews there. He and Joey are already buddies...

The only sad note was talking to D2 on the way home . She was by herself in her temporary city -- NY -- and missed us all. But a FaceTime (tm) session with her little man Spaniel Bo cheered her up. And we'll be with her in NYC next Saturday.  She can hold out until then.

But for now, Wifey and I have a peaceful, easy feeling about our future in laws. A night of grand celebration, with salsa music, mixed with a little traditional Jewish, and maybe even some American pop, awaits.

To borrow a line from "Annie," a revue in which D1 starred when she was a little girl, we think we're gonna like it here.