Yesterday morning I opened an email from Cici wishing us a happy wedding anniversary on a hot Juneteenth day in Houston.  I want you and Mama to love each other forever and always be happy, she said.   It was our second anniversary but the first we have spent together because Ping was in China last year at this time.  I wondered where I should I take her to celebrate?  I decided that a trip to the outlet mall might be the thing that would give her the most pleasure. That turned out to be a great call, as Coach came through for her in a big way and she will be remembering and enjoying that anniversary for years to come.

Then I took Ping to dinner at Pappadeaux because she has been wondering about the kind of food that they serve there.  That was another good call.  I think if they opened a restaurant like this in Guangzhou it would be very successful, she said.  Chinese people would love this food.  Do you think they might be interested in opening a restaurant there?  Maybe we could open it for them, she suggested.  The fried calamari was the best that she or I have ever eaten.  We were just sorry that Cici wasn't there to enjoy it with us because it is one of her favorite foods.  It was served with some artichoke hearts that had been breaded and fried right along with the calamari.  That alone would have made a great meal.

But Ping also ripped apart the long loaf of bread they brought to the table and devoured about half of it.  When her onion rings were served, she was amazed at how many there were.  They were also freshly hand made and not some of those little frozen onion rings that so many places serve.  The authentic greek salad that we shared also wowed her, as did the salmon that had been smoked on a cedar plank with half a dozed stalks of asparagus.  She raised her margarita on the rocks to toast our anniversary and our good fortune in finding each other.  Then she spent time at home fawning over her gifts.

This morning I had another nice surprise.  An email from Cici.  It was an electronic gift card.  A small elephant came walking up to a big elephant and surprised it with a kiss from its little trunk.  Papa, she had written.  Happy father's day!!!  Love you forever!!!  Cici.