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We decided to celebrate my older son's birthday
with an elaborate dinner at Benihana in Sunnyvale - in one of the big
malls. He says we did dinner before - a long time ago. It's the old I
have no clue (vague memory) - I recognize the parking lot once I find
it.
The problem with Sunnyvale, San Jose, Mountain View
and related areas is that they can change appearance overnight! A build
near where I work is suddenly --- GONE! And bulldozers abound. This is
between a next of 10 new structures raised in the past two years. I hope
the Silicon Valley boom doesn't crash abruptly like the defense business.
You can drive in San Diego and Los Angeles and find whole complexes, buildings
and parking lots, empty. Thousands changed jobs. And they didn't get a
choice.
With all this rapid growth, I am not surprised I
don't recognize the route. But I do recall the parking lot.
We find each other (I in my 2-wheel drive old truck
and my son in his Tacoma.)
We ask for a "table" and head for the bar. It's his
birthday - he wants two punches in those cute Buddha ceramics. My younger
son has his traditional virgin Pina Colada and I get -- a Matai. I haven't
had one in years (try decades).
Just as they round up the drinks - we get seated.
My elder son decides I need to try - Spider rolls.
I do like Sushi - but - I'm not so sure about the little crab legs packaged
in the middle of one of them. No thank you. They others were great.
However, having eaten one or two, I really had a
hard time trying anything else! (They do make up doggy bags.)
My son tries to get me to taste Eel. I try a little
bit. Ok but a bit greasy. He also has some tune Magura sushi and Wasabi.
That's green stuff that have been warned to stay away from. He mixes it
into his soy.
My sons try chopsticks (my older son's significant
other does too) but I opt for a fork. Or fingers.
Sushi can be eaten with fingers.
The Matai is strong - and not as sweet as the one
I had in Hawaii. It will be the last one I ever have.
I am beginning to glow - which entertains the three
boys. I try to stay upright so I eat all my Sushi.
Of course, the red may be from the bite of pickled
Ginger. One never knows. Allergic reactions look the same on me. Red skin.
Because the face is still healing. (If you are thinking of having your
face resurfaced with a laser, get it in writing that the doctor will not
take it upon himself to decide to do more than requested. I will be getting
a second opinion shortly.)
Some soup (scallion in it) and a salad arrive. I
have some of each. The salad has a nice dressing (I think they sell it).
I try chopsticks - my hands at 58 are not as flexible
as when I used to eat Jello with chopsticks at the ripe age of 19. I was
renting a room while in college in a basement of a Japanese war-bride
and her family. She taught me to make Sukiaki and to eat with chopsticks.
I will stick with my fork.
I did get a grain of rice into my chopsticks. That
would be a bit slow for eating.
We watch them perform chicken fried rice. A little
slab of chicken. Two eggs. A bunch of rice. Butter. Some seasoning. Voila.
The trick is to whip it to a frenzy with knives and
spatula.
It is served by packing the mixture into an individual
serving bowl and then tossing the bowl a few times, each bowl. My sons
says they rarely drop one.
I am having shrimp - Calamari and scallops.
A few of the 8 of us at the table are having meat.
The fish stuff is first.
Shrimp are dumped on the grill.
And the frenzy of detailing and cleaning them is
a wonder to behold.
Shrimp flip.
Wish I could sort laundry that fast!
Scallops are next - and they are melt in the mouth!
I need to try to fix them like that (sliced thin - cooked fast).
Calamari is a new thing for me. Squid. OK. I'll try.
(I took it home - I could not get through the fish
and then the veggies. Doggy bag. Had it for dinner the next night.)
"Charlie" is our cook and he makes an onion volcano.
Flip flip flip.
(He actually does not play with the food quite as
much as usual - because we are the late shift???)
The volcano is cute - we ask what the liquid was
he poured into the middle to make it steam - i.e., anything special?
Japanese water! he says with a straight face.
My elder son orders --- SAKI.
Hot Saki (I haven't had that in about 19 years).
And vanilla ice cream.
Sip Saki and take a bite of vanilla ce cream.
Saki float!
Pretty good.
I stick to three small cups and a large cup of green
tea.
Japanese birthday songs are sung - turns out the
other half of the table also has a birthday boy. And we get photos.
Mug shots!
They have a Buddha with a candle on top - they light
it once for each birthday boy to blow out.
We head out for fresh air and a bit of conversation
before driving. My boys like to remind me of the retched things they used
to do to me. They are proud of their achievements.
They have admitted to turning Fabio's calendar upside
down (they both denied this for years). (Like there was anyone else in
the house to take the blame!)
They haven't decided how to retaliate for the second
date I just bought - I think the elder one is actually still working on
the first one.
You see, they must have equal attention and money.
Fabio is considered to be a rival. A third child in the family. The older
one (to whom I gave no present - I bought the washer and dryer for him
at Christmas and said it was for birthday and Christmas - a fact which
he of course merrily ignores) wants a G4 laptop.
The younger one is working me into getting a new
truck. So he can take it.
Camera lenses (so he can go to Houston and shoot
the Romantic Times convention again). And an iBook - to complete his set
of computers. I have three so he feels that he should.
I'm surprised they don't just put shopping lists
on the walls. Come to think of it.....
We laugh a great deal about their antics - which
my son's companion just rolls his eyes at - my children having always
been creative.
I finally decide I am tired and need to leave. We
make our good-byes.
The parking lot exit being confusing, my elder son
told me to follow him - so I drove up behind him - 2" off his door - as
he loaded his passenger. Perpendicular.
In the parking lot.
Well, he said to follow him.
For which he turned around and suddenly clambered
onto my truck - on the roof
So I did what any self respecting mother would do.
I pulled on the emergency brake, got out, and climbed up on his truck.
In velvet pants!
This prompted him to jump into his truck and attempt
to back up over the curb so I would slide off the hood.
Brat!
(My younger son had almost climbed up too but decided
to catch his mother instead. Good thing.)
My son's companion had slunk down in his seat, hands
over his face, in disbelief. I don't know why. He should be used to us
by now! Could it be that at my advanced age I should have settled? Ha!
I still get hot and bothered by a certain tall Italian blonde! Probably
will 'till the day I die!
Doubled over laughing, I made it back to my car.
I followed the Tacoma out of the parking lot (confusing
piece of roadway).
I followed them onto the freeway.
My elder son stuck out his tongue at 65MPH (tire-changing
speed in California) so I passed him.
He kissed us off and passed us. Tommy Tacoma likes
to be first.
Can we say - a little too much Saki? No. Can we say
he still drives like an idiot? Yes.
I behave myself. My younger son (who does not drink
- and who is determined that I shall not indulge much longer) didn't want
to attempt driving the freeway. I did not press him to do so. He hasn't
mastered the clutch yet.
Anyway - I am home and pooped.
My younger son says my eyes look old.
Oh, thank you!
(Maybe the second opinion doctor can shed some light
on keeping my eyes from betraying my age. Not likely. You do have to give
up the battle sometime.)
On that note, I will go to bed.
After all, I do have an upcoming date to consider.
Before I look too old and tired to enjoy it! (I will get even for this
remark. Watch me!)
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