First of 2011 – first new year afternoon
Lucky I did not have a hangover. At times I was thinking, I can have fun without being drunk or drugged, when it comes to new year celebration, although one of the most memorable new year had some alcohol involved.
I woke up to a lovely late morning, joined my family for half-way through breakfast. My father was brushing my sister fresh out of shower hair while she was having her favourite meal: squid stir fry with egg noodle – cooked by the maid. I always think whatever that maid cooks, always been too oily and salty. Then the debate over the Kobe beef – my dad bought – or my mom’s American beef…..they always have some sort of verbal ‘debate’ going on. I ask myself at times, how can they last for this long with the amount of disagreement there is!
My first drink of the year was green tea at Mojo Cafe, reading Mark Z. Facebook article on Time, and of course my Shop Til You Drop dose.
Kobe beef – well there’s marinate already so I think shitake mushroom would go perfectly well, off to the Chợ Cũ on Hàm Nghi. On the way back I dropped by to visit my granny. Last time I heard she was sick, from the flu. She’s uber tiny now, shrink to almost nothing. She curls her body up as a cat, her white hairs are getting less, and with the latest haircut, it looks like there’s not much left. So much memory of us in that house, she used to walk me to the market and buy me chè every time. Including all the discipline lessons I got, from things like the way a girl should eat, to table manner and the disapproval of my tomboy behavior.
I left the chung cư when my aunt starts asking about my marriage ‘it’s only you and Nguyên left, when it is An?’. I said ‘ok I’m out of here’.
My vespa drove well. The weather is perfect, overcast, light breeze, empty roads. I stopped by my fav flower shop Lavender and picked out some flowers until realized I did not carry enough cash. How embarrassing! The boy was super nice. Again he asked about my marriage just when he just finished preparing someone’s wedding flowers. ‘You will have to wait for a very long time’, I said.
Noone was home, the house is empty, what a peaceful start of the year. As my flowers are all settled in their vases and I had finish all my pictures, dad walked in after a drink-lunch with the neighbour. Its us two again, always.
(the black-ish rose will last long – they’re not real)
And here is the pale pink roses.
How they look at my bathroom window!
Tulip were not yet blossom.
Kobe beef at 5pm.
