Jack Foley’s birthday is tomorrow. I wanted to treat him to a birthday lunch. We were in Chinatown. Finding the restaurant that was recommended to us closed, we kept walking down Pacific Ave. At lunch time the restaurants were packed with people. You had to take a number and wait in line in some of them. Jack had a radio show to get to. We couldn’t just wander aimlessly. I ran down the street ahead of Jack and saw Yummy Yummy. It was a medium sized restaurant and they promised we’d have a seat soon.
The head waitress’ shrill voice cut through all the noises. Maybe she was trained in the Chinese opera. All the other waitresses maneuvered around the room under her directorship. They brought out selection of dim sums in little tin containers. Diner’s voices bounced off the harsh white walls, floor and ceiling. I told Jack, “It’s like your collision texts.”
I gave Jack a bag of fortune cookies for his birthday. He opened the bag and shared them with the people sitting next to us. The chocolate flavored ones were surprisingly good.
Mission accomplished, Jack drove back to Berkeley with time to spare. I took a long walk to Bart, enjoyed the warm sun and fair weather.
Jack at 72
72 Jacks
at
Maxwell
well well
(none too loose
all cool)
kick ass with pen
kudos
to who?
All 72!
Clara meets
Jack
at 72
in a place that is old
(well, not terribly new)
Without Clara Hsu
Jack wouldn’t
quite know
what he should do
in this town
made from China:
Jack’s a tourist and diner
Watch them joke
Watch them slide
Watch their poems
collide
when Ms. Clara is out
with that rather stout lout
when Ms. Hsu and Jack Foley are out on the town
*
Things my fortune cookies are telling me:
When opportunity knocks, answer the door.
Be prepared to modify your plan.
You are compassionate and understanding.
Others find your charm irresistible.
Actions speak louder than words.
(Better in the French version: Les actes sont plus éloquents que les paroles,”actions are more eloquent than words”)
You’ll accomplish more later if you take some time for yourself.
You tend to raise the spirits of those around you.
You enjoy sharing your dreams and plans with others.
Laughter is the best medicine.
You are kind and trustworthy. Others often count on you.
Your sly nature will get you out of a tight spot.
Being kind to others will bring rewards.