best ever...

So, the best things ever?

Watching Owen make bug houses in the playground or at home.

The beach, about anywhere, watching Brian run around with the kids.

And Grace... every night after her Daddy reads her books and while I am reading to Owen comes into the room, requests (and receives) a kiss, gives a big hug and one kiss more then I have to say "goodnight goodnight little dinosaur" and if I don't she'll remind me to "say it!"

best meals ever?

That ballena of pacifico relished as we set up camp in a (relatively) verdant wash in Baja California after a long, bumpy, dusty drive with dear friends who had taken me under their wing and set me on the path to what has turned out the rest of my life.  I have never enjoyed a beer more (well, some of Brian's more recent brews are up there).

Picnic dinner on the deck in the perfection that is a Portland summer evening.  Veg from the garden, raspberries you can lean over and pick right there, Rose or homebrew.

There was that perfect Easter brunch on the Grass in Old Field where we moved the table outside and Michael played violin, the sun was shining, I grilled something that turned out well (I just remember being pleased, not what it was).

Massive chinese banquets when I was growing up, surrounded by family and friends who you thought were family who want you to eat more and more and more, surrounded by steamy warmth and a golden light, dish after dish after dish of deliciousness, giant lazy susans always in motion, a celebration, a brief toast, best clothes, connection and love (and all sorts of things I would be shocked to be served now... massive seabas, sharkfin).

That dinner in NYC for Derek's graduation where Grandpa Jerry kept insisting I try some blue cheese, which I really didn't like at the time.  I'd try some, say yeah Grandpa, I really just don't like blue cheese, he said this is really really good, you should like it, and have me try some again ... this time with this pear...and... nope still don't like it...he tried at least four times, never thought it was tasty... but for some reason it was really making me smile inside.  I like blue cheese now.