We rolled up in our zip car. Picked up all our stuff and walked up to the sliding door. There was dad, so cute, eating his appetizer pork dumpling. He looked so excited. ”Hi Dad,” I said.. ”Hi,” said Carrie. “Wow, you guys are early,” said dad.
I think we threw him off his planned schedule. I told him we would be there at 6:30, but somehow that translated to dinner at 7, so we will arrive at 7. He started to get a little flustered and immediately started making fresh dumplings for us. “You guys can start with some dumplings and chicken soup. I juss made it. Iss really good this time. I put a little bit of ginseng in it. Just a little.”
I went in to mom’s room to say hi. There she was laying in her bed watching CNBC. “hi. you guys are here so early.”
“Hi Mom. I missed you. How was the stock market today?”
“It was okay. I made some money.”
“Are you going to come out and eat with us?”
“I just ate dumplings”
“That’s an appetizer. You need to eat more.”
“i’ll be out in a little bit.”
“okay, I am going to go help dad cook. I bought you french beans for dinner.” I gave her a hug and a kiss on the cheek and left.
Dad was on his way to cooking a bunch of other dishes. Deep fried marinated spare ribs. Chinese squash. Yellowtail sashimi with jalapeno and tobiko. Spicy yellowtail stir fry. And don’t forget the asian store bought white steamed chicken with dipping oil that has been infused with scallions, ginger and god knows what else. It’s sooooo good. I made the french beans once he was done.
Finally mom came out of her nesting hole. “Hi Carrie, how are you doing,” as she opens her arms for a hug. I had set the table so carrie and i would sit on the side that faces the television, mainly so mom doesn’t watch tv the whole dinner. But, of course, she starts to kick carrie out of the chair. Dad starts laughing, “Mommie, what are you doing? Oh, you want to sit there?” “yes, so I can watch my tv.” haha.. it never seems to stop. she is the most interesting, blunt woman I will ever know. It makes me laugh every single time she does these amazing things. Carrie quickly moves to the other side of the table. i felt bad about putting carrie there, knowing fully what would happen. Sorry honey.
“how’s the market doing? Did you guys invest in stem cell research?” Carrie asked. We had come up with different talking points before we came. Just in case.
“Oh yes, Mommie made $10,000 on (i forget what company). But she could have made more. So stupid.” They always say that. Any time my parents call each other stupid, I like to think they are saying, I love you. Definitely a name for a chapter in the book: Why you so stupid, I love you.
“how was South beach? Did you guys have a good time? jannie, were you just laying around doing nothing?” says mom.
“No mom! I was working! Daniel and I plated over 500 tastings for our dish.”
“Yeah, jannie was working hard this time.” says carrie trying to back me up.
“Oh. What did you make?”
“We made grilled octopus salad with sunchokes, pickled kumquats and mint.”
“Oh really?” says mom with this kind of disapproving look. “Jannie you need to be more like Carrie.” (oh here we go.) “You need to have more knowledge in there.” as she points her index finger to her head. “You so stupid. You need more knowledge in here.” They always seem to repeat themselves as if it will make me understand them more and remember what they say, but really it just helps me remember so I can write my book which they, obviously, will play a large part in. Don’t get me wrong. They love me and I love them. But the things they say. you just can’t make this shit up and it has to be shared with the world. “You need more knowledge up here,” she says again. As usual, I have a sarcastic come back, “Yes mom. I need to have knowledge up here cause i know nothing about web design. i have no knowledge of how to cook. I am not learning anything in the kitchen, at all.” This usually makes her stop and change the subject.
Dinner was over. I thought we wouldn’t finish it all, but dad was right. The perfect amount of food. I hate it when he’s right. haha.. I was so full, but it’s not over yet. Fruit. There is always fruit at the end.
Carrie and I were sitting at the dinner table digesting. Mom was sitting in the comfortable brown modern 80’s leather recliner, which was slowly losing it’s brown color. Dad came out from the bedroom to hook up the computer in the living room. ”I bought a new computer. Iss so fast.”
“He said he bought it for me, but he really bought it for himself,” says mom in her proud voice as if she discovered the most truthful thing in the world that no one else recognizes.
“I’m going to skype gracie and fannie.” He was so cute. He would put his head down and look up out of his glasses while connecting the computer. “Let’s see what is Gracie doing.”
“Hi dad!” says fannie on the webcam.
“Hi, graciiiie. What are you guys doing?”
“we are eating dinner. Hold on. let me twist gracie’s chair around.”
“Hi, graciiiiie,” said dad as he waves his hand. Carrie and i walked over to wave too. She was getting so big.
Mom popped her head in with her scarily big smile, “Hi Graciiiiie. Pai pai saan.” This was a game to get gracie to clap her hands. “Pai pai saan.” gracie turned her head and said,”noooooo.”
Mom did it several times more and finally gracie clapped her hands and we all cheered. i think gracie is starting to realize, do what the lady says so she’ll stop bothering you to do it.
We let fannie finish feeding gracie and said goodbye. ”What time do you have to bring back the car?” said dad. “10:30.” “Oh, you better leave by 9.” ”We’re okay. We can hang out for a little bit.” All of a sudden there was a time limit, so dad starts to kick us out. “i have grapefruit for you guys. I bought six. You guys take 3.” Without fail, we always leave with fruit or some kind of food. He packed us a bag with 3 grapefruit, the chicken leftovers and haricot verts.”
We said our thank yous and goodbyes. Dad wouldn’t even let me linger with a long hug cause he thought we wouldn’t make the 10:30 deadline. It was nice to see them. We hadn’t seen them in a long time. Carrie and I were about to leave when we remembered we were supposed to take home the leftover wine. I ran up to the sliding door and dad opened. “oh, what did you forget. THE WINE!” he said. he gave me the wine. I said thank you again and I left. Got back in the car. ”I am totally blogging about tonight.” She said, “you totally should and you know how you should end it? Instead of your dad remembering the wine. When he opens the door he says, you want some grapefruit?”
