What's Next?

Chapter 27 Getting Ready

July came and Se-ri did not know where the time went. She found herself at her favorite spot looking at the ocean and thinking over the last few months. She had really settled in and was comfortable with where she was, which surprised her.

She thought back at Oscar time, Lisa had an Oscar party. There was one condition to attend, everyone had to be dressed up and look glamorous, after all it was an Oscar party. In the invitation, Lisa gave specific instructions, formal but fun and can include tiaras, boas, wigs and vintage. The more fun the better. Start time of the party was the same time the celebrities were on the red carpet. The purpose of the party was to watch what the celebrities were wearing. She arrived at the party and was amazed to see the women dressed in beautiful gowns and adorned with tiaras, boas and a couple women were wearing feather dresses and oh, the wigs. She had never seen such elaborate wigs. Se-ri had never attended an Oscar Party with champagne, food and lots of laughter. They evaluated what the celebrities wore, both women and men, each had to pick a winner. She got a lot of ideas for Seri Choice at the Oscar party. Both by watching what the celebrities wore but also by what the women at the party wore and their comments. She thought she could so something like that in Korea for their award show.

She got a call from David asking if she would like to go the Drive In the next evening and that Lisa was going.

"Sure, I have not been to a Drive In in a long time."

"It is usually a double feature. I take the pickup truck, we sit on the bed, with blankets and watch the movie. Lisa brings food, and we have a picnic."

"I'll come. That would be different."

"I will pick you up at 7.30."

They were sitting on the pickup bed and it was a great place to people watch. Lisa had prepared a feast. Patties, hummus and pita chips, fried chicken, brownies and lemonade. Se-ri looked at the food in front of her and suddenly her stomach started to growl. Lisa gave her a plate and told her to help herself and she did. The food tasted so good, she did not know if it was because they were outside or she was just hungry. She ate and felt satisfied. David got the sound for the movie from his phone. The movie started, they leaned back and she watched in contentment. This is so unusual, she thought. But it was nice being outside and watching a movie. She looked up at the moon and thought of Jeong hyeok. Are you going to be there next month? Are you married?

Annette told her that she told the family that she was the daughter that she had to give up. She said the family was surprised and right after they were told they took to search for her on the internet and they were surprised at what they found. Se-ri's Choice, Queens, her philanthropy and Patroness of the Music Scholarship held once a year in Switzerland. To say they were impressed would be an understatement.

Soon after Annette told the family, she met them. There was some awkwardness but David was there to smooth it over. He looked at everybody and said,"

"Meet Yoon Se-ri, your sister and cousin."

They looked at her dying to ask their questions. And then it started.

"Se-ri, where do you live in Korea?" asked Dominic

"Why did you start Se-ri's Choice?" asked Rachel

"Do you have a good relationship with your family?" asked Sara

"Will you come visit us?"

"Can we visit you in Korea?"

"Are you in a relationship?"

She was giddy with all the questions.

"Dominic, I live in Gangnam, Seoul"

"Rachael, I started Se-ri's Choice because I have always been interested in fashion and skin care. I started the firm while I was still at university. I wanted my own company because I did not want to work for my family at Queens"

"Sara, My relationship with my family has improved."

"I will come to visit you and of course you can come to visit me in Korea, I would expect nothing less and no, I am not in a relationship."

The questions kept coming and she kept answering. They were impressed with the Queens Se-ris Choice Music Scholarship. She told them the two students who won the scholarship was a South Korean pianist and a North Korean violinist. It was then she found out that Annett's husband's Ben was a Music Professor at the University and he was also a composer. And Kate's husband James composed music for films and he also a  conductor. She told them Annette was going with her to Switzerland in August.