Hon Kee on Argyle and getting to know my dad

Yesterday brought my monthly trip to Schererville to visit with my dad. I decided to tag along on their trip to Chicago. If for nothing else, but to eat a good meal. A favorite of theirs for food is Hon Kee on Argyle. It is an old haunt for them from the days of living in the city. I really wanted Vietnamese but was ok with Chinese. Our table quickly became full with good food. Pork fried rice, broccoli rabe with oyster sauce, bbq pork with beancurd, dumpling soup and sweet soy milk. While I am not vegetarian fully, I let go of any attempt to be with this meal. My favorite being the broccoli. Next time I go I am thinking broccoli and soup.



This all brings me to getting to know my dad. Part of the reason I moved to Valparaiso was to maybe get the chance to do just that. If I could separate myself from the tension filled relationship with my father from my youth, my dad is a cool guy. I assume part of having an adult relationship with my father is doing just that. Learning to get to know him as he is. Things I like from/about my dad are few so far but good. He taught me the best way to cut and eat mangoes. Mango with lime is fantastic. Truman Capote is his favorite author. He reads A Christmas Memory every year. At his insistence, I will be checking out Capote's Selected Writings to read this month. He also has seen most of Pedro Almodovar's movies although he does not seem to share the enthusiasm I have for them. And there is lots to discuss with him about cooking. So far getting to know my dad is moving along as much as it can.

In other news, the last weekend was kind of blah. Partly because I was sick and partly because I am working on fitting into a new identity that I did not have living in CU. Two interesting things have changed some perspective on life going into the week. 1. Was a trip to Chicago. I found myself looking at neighborhoods as possible living places. Not great neighborhoods granted but realizing I could theoretically afford to live in the city at some point given a job. A recognition of change of social status from student to full time employed. Felt weird regardless.
The second was clearing out my google reader. I am trying to simplify and get back to the things I love to do instead of feeling overwhelmed.
While clearing it out, I stumbled across the blog Teaching Cancer to Cry. It is written by Ezra, a bike designer in NYC, who was diagnosed with cancer two years ago. He went into remission and now the cancer is back Stage 3. His writing is stark, beautiful and honest. I love reading his blog. I came across it from another bike blog that I read and he had stopped updating after he went into remission. He writes about food, his worries, his wife and bikes. I am not completely sure how it changed my perspective but it is on my mind.