Who Could This Be…!

The day of her arrival, (August 15) I did nothing but sit in front of my Bose and trip out to crazy music, getting my spiritual sense stronger than ever. Once it had struck the clock about an hour before her arrival, I quickly got myself ready and headed for Midway with the music still trapped in my head through my headphones. It was an incredible day, I couldn’t believe this dream state was as real as reality- I couldn’t believe a dream had transcended so clearly into my reality. I waited for about maybe half an hour for her and her mother to walk out of the arrival lane but the instant they appeared, I ran and gave her a hug before she had even noticed it. She was completely freaked by the first welcoming in Chicago – an unknown identity’s rapid hug without even a vision of him/her running towards her! I was so, so ecstatic! The first night was a dinner at VTK, possibly my favorite Thai Restaurant. The Wongs were so glad to have some Asian Food after a couple of nights in San Francisco where they ate burgers and steaks everyday. Asians can never survive without a piece of rice, this is true.

Lots of interesting things besides the usual Vin and Kookoo’s crazy spiritual experiences. Vin’s mom met up with her old high school friend and it had been decades since they’d last seen each other. The friend was of course shocked to hear Mrs. Wong had a daughter now going off to college, and with the youngest (and the cutest) son being 12. But what shocked Mrs. Wong about the friend was that she was dating a boyfriend who she won’t even permit to borrow her keys to her house. They live seperately, and she plans to stay that way for another long time. Only women like her are lucky enough to find such a convenient boyfriend. Although it’s nice to have a part time ‘husband’, I’d rather be married by 40. But this friend was a funny woman; especially when she questioned Mrs. Wong about her suggestion of taking a Taxi. Mrs. Wong also visited my apartment and I was just so relieved to hear (because she’s my interior design idol) that she liked my place! Hahahaha, except for the fact that she saw our cigarette buds but besides that, I’m very glad!
Vin and I met up with an old high school friend, Rob for lunch at a really good Chinese restaurant downtown. Then we headed to Ghirardelli and Hershey’s! They had this cute machine at Hershey’s where we take a picture and it gets printed to become a huge Hershey’s bar with that photo on it! It also allowed us to write a caption so we put “Universe” (we never get rid of the nerdy spirit). It’s adorable, I still have it kept safely in my fridge. Then across from Hershey’s at Ghirardelli’s, we had 2 big parfaits. They were both so, so delicious but super filling!
That same night, we visited Elliot’s new place, which was really really really gorgeous and with the best(!!!) view from his balcony. We had some wine then headed to the lake, my favorite spot and hopefully Vin’s too. We had more wine by the lake with some good conversation, then I had to pee like a horse so we headed back to Elliot’s place. I was really happy because Vin finally had the chance to have some real Chicago’s deep dish pizza that night, which she loved! Good conversation, calm energy and Family Guy! The day of her departure came around so quickly, the whole visit really did give me an after effect of a good, long dream. But I like it that way, it made everything much more memorable, magical and amazing.
This morning I had a dream about Malvina and I at a beautiful apartment by the beach, and we flew a helicopter out from the balcony like the air force show. What was most real about this dream was the turbulence even after the dream was done. Before I end this entry, I want to write down something Vin pointed out during our philosophical balcony nights. It was one of the greatest thoughts I’ve heard in a very long time. “Do you have any change?” “Spare change?” These questions on the street, the plastic cups and cardboard signs – of course, when we feel hopeless and helpless, there is not enough in us to stand back up and we tend to ask our peers. For those homeless people in the city, it could be a subconscious desire in them, that they want change in their lives. But a coin will not help, a residential shelter will help for the present but not permanently in their lives. What would help, is asking themselves for change – a change in their lives. All human beings are born with innate source of love. We can, if we dig hard enough and long enough, seek out the positivity that sleeps under all the negativity that suppresses the positive. Love is everywhere still, not by asking, but in us, enough to make each of us content in this simple yet ironical and complicated reality.
Some photos…