worth the drive

An hour and half just to Vallejo (we had to stop by Valerio's to offer some egg pie and buko pie), then getting lost through Sonoma from Hwy 37 to 112 to 116 to Petaluma to the 101, but well worth the trip through cow pastures to visit this guy:



Who was a bit grumpy I suppose from all the excitement of people visiting that day, but such an adorable grumpy. Lola Leny of course triggered that Filipino cooking gene that cannot possible calculate food proportions with attending people. Fortunately, as the last ones in and the last ones out, we made away with a few of those scones.

We managed to meet and greet many of the guests on their way out. Lucky enough to say hello again to Peter and Grace, who were also a part of Leny's dissertation way back when. We have the shared experience of being known as the "people in the book" by ethnic studies classes at SF State who continue to read about our experiences of "becoming Filipino." Now, we're a decade older, Grace with a lovely 6 year old daughter who raced to create a row of rocks in the picnic table slats. Always nice to see them agian and see where our lives have gone.

Brought the tape of the Pamanhikan to share. Stayed almost til midnight eating 2nd, 3rd, 4th servings of the leftovers. Strawberries and cream! How can you say no? Enjoyed hanging out with Leny and Cal. It's hard to find much extra time anymore, but when you have it, got to use it well with people you enjoy.