I guess I just couldn’t stay away. But I hope no one gets any ideas. It’s hot and humid here, and I’m sure would take a little getting used to. I generally don’t mind. It’s just one of those things you have to face about life sometimes. We can’t all live in perfect, tropical climates. Still, it reminds me of how lucky I was to have lived in Hawaii for three years — beautiful ocean breezes, and generally not overpowering in the heat department. Then to follow that with nearly six years on the Monterey Peninsula — beautiful ocean breezes; cool, natural, Monterey Bay-fed “air conditioning.” Nearly nine years of some of the cleanest air you could breathe — could’ve added years to my life if it weren’t for following it up with 20 years in Korea (with three in Texas somewhere in there).
I’ve appreciated some of the food here. In the two times I’ve been to Okinawa over the past month, we’ve had a couple of decent meals at some quaint little restaurants. There’s also a nice little bakery near my daughter’s house that we’ve hit up a few times; and of course, my new favorite drink, C.C. Lemon.
We’ve had a couple of disappointments too. I’d heard good things about a place near Kadena Air Base, but I think I ate the wrong thing to introduce myself to its cuisine. The food culture is certainly a bit different than that to which I am accustomed. The staff is always quite polite, but I’ve occasionally felt a “there’s a way we do things around here, and that ain’t it” vibe. Maybe it’s just my sensitivity to Japanese politeness. Plus not knowing the language. I don’t feel I can be kind enough in return.
But I certainly would like to know the language. It seems fascinating.
We’re not necessarily cat people in our place up in Korea, but our daughter and son-in-law have one named “Socks,” and he’s an interesting animal. My daughter would say “he’s so needy,” but I just think he wants to be petted a lot sometimes. He took quite a shine to Micha, and she’s mentioned getting a cat one of these days. Her problem is her disdain for animal hair of any kind in our home, so if it isn’t a hairless cat, it probably wouldn’t make the cut (she’s had her eye on a Sphynx in the past). Still, Socks makes me think. Cats can be decently low-maintenance, although I think picking up poop with a bag is a little more consistent and easier than dealing with all that cat litter, even if you do have a fancy, automated machine that does a lot of the work for you.
And of course, there’s the grandson. I’ve mentioned before, we didn’t have the chance to see and hold our first when he was this tiny, so this little spud is getting a double dose. He knows grandma’s voice, and it’s pretty sweet to see them together. But he’s getting to be quite a load, and it won’t be long before grandma and grandpa can’t carry him around, so he’d better be walking by the next time we see him (in September or so). We go back to Korea on Monday and will be counting the days.
Awwwww
Socks misses mom!