Thankful for Downtown

A quiet Saturday was begging for a little adventure so we made the 20 minute drive to downtown with no particular plans. The gray sky became veiled as we wound through the shadows of the tall buildings and soon we found ourselves at a Japanese market. The kids excitedly held up package after package asking their dad what each said. They loved his vast knowledge of such things. We thought it as good a day as any to introduce the children to sushi. It was a delight watching them pop a full piece into their little mouths in true sushi eating fashion. Nick's nostrils grew in great proportions as he chewed but he felt wonderfully triumphant as he swallowed the last of it. The big boys polished off every last piece.

We traveled on to a predominately hispanic part of town and bought the kids "street meat." Asada and barbacoa. After our seven year declared the asada to be hamburger he asked if the man serving it was speaking "Japan." We had a great talk about all the different languages that people speak. His eyes lit up when I suggested the possibility of him learning a language other than English someday.

We ended our adventure at papa's office. What a treat it was for the children to enter the darkened building and use the "special pass" to enter the elevator. They admired the new break room and the towering downtown construction visible from the huge windows. They each claimed a desk and we played secretary as day turned to dusk. The phones were ringing off the hook and there were millions of papers to be signed and shredded. The highlight of the workday . . . when Brandon received a carefully scrawled note that said "Sorry but you know that you are fired. Sorry abotit."

He hung it next to the family photo.