If Green Vegetables Smelled as Good as Bacon

Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon. ~Doug Larson

I had my first experience Thursday night eating nothing but vegetables and some whole grain bread. It’s called healthy food – organic diet. The quote given above says exactly how I felt after eating it.

Echo, a senior member of the club – The China T/Ms Club, warmly and kindly invited Wenny who just came back Taiwan from her graduate study in the states, and me for dinner at Mirama (美麗華) in NeiHu. A small favor of mine lending some books to her got me a free meal? I happily accepted her invitation after all we could enjoy a pleasant chat while eating.

I was there on time, and parking was no sweat. How nice! There was a street performer playing the violin by the fountain in front of the plaza. Cool! Echo suggested that we try healthy food, pure organic diet. I’m a meat lover though I can’t live without vegetables, either. Yet thinking that I had had so many big fat meals over the past week, and Echo is an animal lover and a healthy food supporter, I was happy to have healthy food for a change. We headed for the eatery area.

The place was really nice. It looked like a nature-friendly green food shop from outside, no way to tell there was a restaurant area inside. How could people tell there was food service there? I guess by words of mouth.

So we walked into the shop - Chang Gang Biotechnology, Health Center, to the far inside restaurant area. It was quite unexpected to see such a spacious area hiding behind the shop. There were two counters dividing food into:

1. Vegetables and fruit with vegetable soup.
2. Wheat bread, beverages and raisins.

After trying two rounds, I found no more to choose. I realized why it was called healthy food. They were organic food, the choices are limited. We joked about the food that it was like eating grass. So, who could overeat grass?

Well, the most important thing was that we had a good chat. Wenny and I shared our experience of studying abroad. Our chat refreshed a lot of my pleasant and sweet memory of studying in Michigan. Echo was like an ATM – automatic telling machine, throwing questions one after another, and taking our words like a sponge. It didn’t surprise me at all that she would make the decision to study abroad while many others of our age are only thinking of retiring. Life to her is just a beginning.

Because of Echo’s determination of fulfilling her dream, I had a lovely evening and healthy food for the very first time. Thank you, Echo.

Trini

A Slow-ripening Fruit

"Wishing to be friends is quick work, but friendship is a slow-ripening fruit." -- Aristotle (4th century B.C.)

My summer vacation is half gone. Good times always seem to slide away swiftly. Goldies happened to have more gatherings these two months. This time, we gathered to welcome two young friends, Gary and Jim, from southern Taiwan.

We met Gary and Jim in late June last year during our trip to ShangHai. Their professionalism and insights of life made a profound impression on us. This unexpected encounter made the first group trip of five goldies more enthralling and fun.

After one year passed, it would be a thrilling thing to meet these two young men again. Every lady was excited and put other things aside to join the gathering except Pamela. She was on her business trip again to ShangHai. What a pity!

This is the excitement part of traveling. We can never tell what exactly out there for us to see or experience when traveling. A good planning can ensure a safe, delightful and intellectual trip. Yet, it is much more than that. What fascinates me most is the unknown, the unexpected waiting for me to explore.

Linda released the news of their visit to Taipei to us and thoughtfully arranged various programs for the weekend; Karaoke on Saturday afternoon at Lydia’s place; dinner and recreation at a Sports Bar owned by Linda’s friend’s friend; visiting the Chinese Ancient Garden on Sunday morning, then the Art Museum in the afternoon. I’m on my summer vacation, whatever arrangement will be perfect for me, and it turned out that I was the only one who made it from the beginning to the end of the big and long gathering.

After a few communication back and forth, unexpectedly an extra Friday night fever at the “Brown Sugar” was decided. They had a live band starting at 9:30 P.M. till over midnight. Wow! First late night for goldies. Michelle made the reservation for a big cozy booth through her son’s help.

Fright night fever was the very first time for me hanging out until 1:30 A.M. way past midnight. It was great fun! Every goldie dressed up for the special event. The night began at 9:00 P.M. for goldies whereas Gary and Jim had to arrive a little bit late. When they showed up, the atmosphere heated up sky high.

We ate, chatted, danced and took photos. Eeryone did their best to enjoy themselves. The band was great, and the singer, Carton J. Smith, was simply amazing. Totally unleashed Sherry danced and interacted with Carton on the stage. Everyone was screaming and cheering them up. What a sideshow! Surprisingly, Gary invited a handsome friend of his, the very popular actor and speed memory trainer Jonathan to join us. Who can resist the charm of a popular handsome man? Everyone took turns to have a photo with him.

The Saturday afternoon’s karaoke program at Lydia place was warm and cheerful as always. We met with great pleasure a new stunning lady Debby, Lydia’s friend. Besides wine, refreshment, dance, and chat, Lydia bought a beautiful yummy cake to celebrate Michelle’s birthday. Another surprise was the pink sexy “VS” gift everyone received from Michelle who just came back from her trip to Las Vegas. Thank you, Lydia and Michelle!

After the Karaoke, we went to the Sports Bar on BaDe Rd. It was the first time for me and some goldies to patronize a Sports Bar. Must say it was a very refreshing experience being surrounded by the dim and erratic light, erotic settings and many pool tables. We tried different cocktails besides food. Some of us also played pool. I was nervous yet excited.

Before we left the place, it was announced that the next morning’s program was cancelled. Apparently after two nights’ wild programs, it would be a torture to drag everybody up early in the morning. Though I was very much interested in visiting the ancient garden again, I must say it might be better not to challenge my limited energy. So we met at the Art Museum in the afternoon.

Only Linda and I made it to the Museum with Gary and Jim. I had been planning to see the Exhibition “Manet to Picasso” and “Jean-Paul Gaultier/Regine Chopinot – Le Défilé-Gallery”, before my American trip, and this was a perfect time to make it. It was a sensational art and intellect afternoon browsing all the art works there.

After immersing ourselves in a sea of art, we hungered for food even though it was early for dinner. Gary and Jim’s original plan was to meet their friends in the evening, yet they decided it was more delightful to have two ladies’ company for dinner. At the last min I suggested that we ate at 水舞饌, a restaurant in NeiHu luxuriously decorated to passion and fashion. I thought it was the perfect atmosphere for a perfect closure of the exciting once-a-year gathering. I’d eaten there twice, loved their food. Without a reservation we were lucky to get a table. We were seated with the stipulation that we had to finish our dinner before their next guests took the table at 6:30 P.M. We had to take it. Having an hour and half to enjoy our dinner there was much better than finding a different place. The conversation was lively and the food was superb. Everything was wonderfully pleasant. We called it a day early. It was time for a rest after three crazy days. I could also spend some time with my children for the rest of the night.

After dropping Gary and Jim off to their next stop, I accelerated to head home. Suddenly my phone rang, it was Linda saying that Jim left his iPhone in my car. I turned back thinking of Murphy’s Law. Jim succeeded in proving it was too early to call it a day by leaving his phone in my car carelessly. I said the 2nd goodbye to them and wished them a safe trip back home.

I believe we will have Gary and Jim’s visit again and look forward very much to it.
Now let me conclude the crazy weekend by quoting a few ladies’ and Jim’s words:

Irene - Thank you, Michelle, Linda and Lydia, for all the arrangements. I had wonderful and crazy time in Brown Sugar, 8 balls and Lydia's place. Unexpectedly the first time the 2nd generation joined our night life activities and got along with us very well.

Kate - What a special experience I had! I came to know 5 "MEN" in a weekend. I found Gary knowledgeable, talented and humorous. I appreciated Jim for his willingness to spend time with golden ladies although he was tired. It's good that our second generation met and mingled together. I didn't have chance to talk to George. He was a little bit shy, but I can tell he is a nice kid. Hank was so friendly and enthusiastic. He gave me the first lesson in my life about how to play billiards. Because of Gary I had chance to do what I have never done in my life - hugging a popular actor! Thank you, girls, for your arrangements. How lucky I am to have you around me.

Sherry - Thanks for sharing! What two wild nights in a row golden ladies unleashed themselves at the end of the sizzling July in 2010!

Jim - Hi, Golden Ladies, Thank you all SO MUCH for the great “ADVENTURE” in Taipei for us form the little town down south. Ha.. Me and Gary had so much fun re-exploring this fun city. Actually, we did have much much more good time than in Shanghai ‘cause of the other golden ladies joining us. Travelling sometimes gives us chance to escape familiarity in our daily life, but interestingly, it also brings back the familiarity of your kindness, and laughter. Now, I really can’t escape you all now! Haha… Here are some photos that I shot with my iPhone, which are also printed in my memory now and ever. Cheers~

Trini
http://picasaweb.google.com/taipeitmtrini/TwoBrilliantYoungFriendsFromKaohsiung#