Mornings are the toughest
Mom, I didn’t expect it to be this hard. It’s really difficult. I wake up in this bunk bed in the orange room to the soft whirrr of the A/C, and I keep waiting and expecting to hear the floorboards creak and you call out that breakfast is ready. Or that I would hear you sing. Or hear you washing up. That I would emerge from my room and see you slowly waddling through your room, getting the day started.
“Anya kayat yo kanen? Sooshi? Yen du?” Your voice was always so musical. Always rang so clearly, strongly, but sweet. As you got older, I began to hear the fun, sweet grandma voice in you, especially over the phone.
Sometimes we’d throw in Applebees or red lobster. Or sandwiches at Toot Sweets or Matsuyama because you always pass by it on March Lane.
Yen Du was our main hot spot whenever I’d visit from SF. The price for the quality and quantity could be beat. Sharing a brown booth together, each with a plate of piping 8 Hot Delicacies (or better known as #13. They already knew this was your favorite as the regular you were).
“Nahmbehr thirteen. Eight..haht .. Dehlee-cacees. Mild, plees.”
Applebees. We would usually have food elsewhere… Then hit up applebees for only dessert. We always shared a Blondie dessert. You knew I always had a sweet tooth. Then when we wanted something new, it was the blue ribbon brownie with icecream. I still can see you taking a spoonful on the brownie with vanilla icecream, and slowly shoveling it in.
“Mm! Yahm yahm!” you would say, raising and dropping your eyebrows a few times. The waitresses seemed entertained each time we went in only to have dessert. But seriously, how can you deny a couteous request like that, coming from my mom?
As we nearly finished the dish, you kept reminding me not to eat the areas she touched, because of the tamoxifen you had taken.
I wish I took some pictures of us at applebees. Ahepehl-beece, as you’d pronounce it.
Dessert will never be the same again. Each time I have something sweet, I wish I could share it with you so we can both nam-nam it and not have your stomach act up.
I defy you, stars!
