Spring Wrap-up

We're about to make the annual trip to see friends in the PNW, so this is blog clean-up time. Here are Mrs Gomez and Mrs Hill, Jack's preschool teachers twice-a-week. I dropped off Jack on Tuesday mornings on the way to work.

Sophia was Jack's good friend all year - at least, her name came up the most.

Proud collection of schoolwork.

Right after Elle took off for the summer, we all took in a Dodger game.

My family was big on Dodger baseball, as a lot of Japanese are. We'd pack a picnic and, basically, transport our home food to the game, basically meaning LOTS of fruit. My memory of my mom at these games is watching her constantly peeling oranges.
At home, mom would often listen to one game on the radio while watching another on the TV. Although her English was poor, she had no trouble understanding baseball commentary.

Baseball is not as big in our family, as our lives seem more complicated; pulled in more directions out of choice, not because we're juggling multiple jobs for income.

I had this craving to make sukiyaki the other day - another nearly weekly occurrence in my house growing up. This is memory lane tonight, isn't it? BTW, that tablecloth is a favorite - a hand-dyed, raised stitch pattern we brought back from Japan. The blue/white color combo you find in many folk crafts is really beautiful.

Well, the boys love rice, especially sprinkling furikake - seasoning - on top:

M & J at a scout firefighter demo. We're in drought conditions at the moment however.

Day Camp

Michael's first summer day camp - organized by the Scouts.

Intense week of multiple events, like climbing wall

archery

and volunteers could bring siblings. That's Jack halfway up before fear hit and was a complete basketcase.

He does an admirable job keeping up with his brother and, while I never saw this before, Jack is an athlete. He has a great overhand throw and is a good gymnast.

We're dying to see what he'll turn out to be, but we're also enjoying him plenty right now. He, on the other hand - 4 years old - is quick to say he's gonna be 6 (like Michael). There is this favorite Curious George story about fire engines with a chorus, "Hurry, hurry, ride the firetruck..."

Hurry, hurry - but for us, everything'a going too fast.

The Front

"June Gloom," as it's called, is persistent this year, the sun only burning through the marine layer in the afternoon - but yesterday the sun was shining in the morning and we'll soon be complaining about the oppressive heat. Our tomatoes could use some solar oppression.
Our home is surrounded by beautiful trees that keeps things shady, but impossible to grow certain flowers and vegetables. Still, Michael's nasturtiums pulled through, however.
And my birthday bugenvilia also bounced back, after moving everything from the shady backyard to the front.

These jasmine put out the most beautiful scent.

Things don't come alive here, as they do in Tacoma, in terms of flowering trees and plants. Maybe it's the year-round effect, rather than going gangbusters in spring; ie matter of perception. Oxnard is a strawberry producing region to our west, and vendors in pick-ups set-up roadside stands throughout our area, selling fruit, nuts, and many varieties of AVOCADO. The best thing about So Cal is the agriculture.

Tiger becomes a Wolf

Michael became a Wolf at a Sunday picnic filled with much ceremony - some patriotic, some Hawaiian (the meeting was launched with a conch shell; note hula skirt on mom below). Tigers are orange; Wolves yellow.

The den meetings have significant pride inflation for our tastes (I think those badges should be earned), but we are definitely more outliers of the Cub world. BTW, that's Michael's buddy, Jeremiah, on the right.
We entered Michael in Scouts, hoping he can go camping, shoot archery, ie get physical, which brings me to another topic: families seem to develop themes: swimming, boy scouts, piano, etc. At this point, we lack one, or, rather, it is a cacophony of many. Jury's still out (unless eating counts), as they say.
This super helpful scout, Gavin, taught Jack how to shoot a two-liter A&W bottle way up in the air, spraying water on the way up. Then on to water balloons.
Once the Scout rituals were over and the play began, things got seriously fun and we even connected more with some of the parents. We stayed an hour over than planned.

Frank Starr

Sad to report that an old Tacoma friend, Frank Starr, died on May 14th at 90 years old. I first met Frank and his wife, Minda, at our church, but only really got acquainted when I asked him for a favor: to cut some glass for my friend, Patrick, who was filling in front drawer panels of a cabinet. I'd heard that Frank, a retired glass installer, was still working odd jobs out of his house.

It was an adventure, figuring out Sumner - integrated into a state highway scheme with considerable contortion - then Frank's shop. Odd-shaped remnants of glass carefully piled in a back sunroom (glass, of course) workshop; above were jars screwed into their lids nailed tight in the ceiling, holding nails, screws, etc. He also had a pet squirrel - domesticated over time - and Minda wouldn't let me leave without feeding me first and handing me a grocery bag filled with pastries & some fruit.

I particularly remember the pricing of the panes. Frank wanted me to appreciate the deal he was giving: custom cut, sanded corners, wrapped in newspaper. I sensed that he also knew the favor was somewhat two-sided; a useful return of his vanished trade skills in what was essentially doubling as a social call. Afflicted with Parkinson's, this simple job had its challenges and Frank messed-up a few panes, earning some light cuts, as well.

Somewhere I learned that Frank had worked for a commercial glass installation company in Seattle, one of his projects being the show windows of the downtown Nordstrom's. Several men lifting heavy glass sheets with suction grips into place.

I recall a phone conversation during one of those hot summer spells in Tacoma, when the heat felt unbearable, being used to a lower set of temperature swings. The heat was hot and Frank was shirtless, trying to keep cool and suddenly yelled out some choice words. He apologized; the squirrel landed on his shoulder.

Later found out Frank was a paratrooper in WWII's 82nd Airborne, and was awarded a Purple Heart. He had been declining steadily, but was surprisingly alert last summer, when I chatted with him briefly at church. He recognized me immediately, outstretching his hand.

Frank Starr

The Tooth Fairy

Michael really wanted his loose tooth OUT while on vacation in Hawaii - this was announced to everyone he met- including this very nice lady who worked at Tommy Bahama's, who turned out to be from Tacoma.
We never learned names, but, upon his request, she pulled out Michael's tooth!

then returned from a backroom to give a goldish coin from the "tooth fairy."

About teeth. I've always had a terrible history with cavities, whereas my brother had none. On their recent check-up, Michael had only one cavity...Jack EIGHT!
The chocolate shake at In-and-Out Burger probably didn't help, but I suspect the constant formula until 10 months old while lying in a crib (the formula swishing around his teeth all the time) didn't help either.
Factor in quality chocolate products our year in Switzerland and the poor guy didn't stand a chance. I mean, chocolate was EVERYWHERE YOU TURNED. While clearing out under Jack's bed in Lausanne, I found all these candy wrappers! Michael's easter basket remains 2/3 full even now; Jack's was depleted by the second day. Michael loves kalamata olives and blue cheese; Jack loves sweets.

Carolyn and I love everything.