Of Painted Toe and Salmon Roe

Stacy got a special treat last weekend. One of her closest friends from college, and her Matron of Honor at our wedding, Jen McNeill came in town for a couple of days with her 9-year-old daughter E. The circumstances made things a little less of a treat for Jen, she was in town for her grandmother's funeral, but in spite of the somber source of the reunion, it was a refreshing time for the girls, and for L who quickly fell in with E and had a blast.



N and I wisely kept our distance from the girl-fest which included, at one point, an overindulgence in nail polish and all the feminine rituals there and unto pertaining. I was happy to hide in my office, emerging only to take the demanded photos and retreat again to my man-cave. N was somewhat more reluctant to forgo a good round of nail-painting, but he acquiesced to my wishes.

I was much more enthused with the idea of going out for sushi one night, though Stacy and Jen insisted on coupling the outing with a sentimental walk down memory lane, with a cold, cloudy beachfront acting as said lane. We parked on the bluffs overlooking south Redondo Beach. It was breezy and chilly and kind of gray and morose. We walked down the incline to the Strand, the biking/pedestrian path that runs dozens of miles up the coast. Since we were going to dinner shortly I authoritatively commanded the kids to keep to the path and out of the sand. My authority held firm for several seconds.

We walked along for a bit, L and N being general nuisances and occasionally specific targets of passing bikers. E didn't believe me when I told her the only reason we came to the beach was to get the fish for the evening's sushi. She refused to wade out and acquire us a tuna.



Eventually we got back to the car, desoiled the kids as best we could, and proceeded to the restaurant. Evidently Stacy and Jen were sushi fiends in college in Santa Barbara; I've always liked it, but we'd never braved it with the kids. Once again E refused to believe me when I told her were were going to have large servings of jellyfish and that not only was the fish raw, but in many cases still had its fins and a good number of delicious scales.

Kids are so jaded and cynical these days.

Sushi may be a few years in the coming for the kids. We were 0 for 3 on the California roll. E sampled and rolled her nose. (She was particularly grossed out by the crunchy salmon eggs sprinkled liberally on top.) L licked hers and gagged. N took a whole mouthful, chewed placidly for 15 or 20 seconds, then got this shocked and panicked look in his eyes and spewed it all back on his plate. So much for appreciation of world culture.

Maybe we'll try Bob's Spinach and Liver Hut tonight.