Since I moved out to the west coast, I don’t get to see my parents that often. So I was glad when my mom came out for my uncle’s 80th birthday dinner in San Jose.
Although the dinner was the main event, complete with several courses —
— for me it was secondary to my mom’s visit.
We met up on the train, and I took her to my fabulous apartment in Oakland. It was her first time seeing it, and she loved it, as I expected.
Our first night we spent a relaxing night in, eating leftover noodles from my aunt and watching TV. The next day we headed out to Oakland Chinatown.
My mother used to go often when visiting my grandmother in Berkeley, and she still remembered where things were. We had dim sum at a place called Legendary Palace. It was very good:
I had managed to convince my mother to make me dumplings so we found a grocery store and got the ingredients. And, long story short, voila!
Mom thought the wrappers were weird, but to me the dumplings turned out delicious. I ate a million.
Before we knew it, it was time for Mom to fly back to the east coast. I brought her to the airport, and as we said goodbye, she looked sad. But I told her I had fun and she looked happier.