Soon after EJ was born in November, 2000, and Diane and they were released from the hospital, we all went to China Gourmet for dinner. CG was our favorite place, our dining room away from home. Paul Cheng was the owner and he was the host. Over the years we'd all become friends, Paul helped me with feeding conferences and special dinners and birthdays. This was a special birthday or a couple days after birth day. EJ was a quiet and smiling baby from the beginning. That first dinner at CG's Paul took the baby from their parents so that they could eat and he walked around with the baby all wrapped up in blankets and his arms and greeted people. Immediately, Paul and his crew became part of EJ's community who helped them grow. Paul never stopped greeting EJ with that same "of course you are one of us" manner. EJ went and sat with other people and drew, and they learned how to act in a restaurant through our constant attendance at that restaurant. Their pictures hung in the kitchen, all of their birthdays were celebrated there and the smile that Paul had on his face that pre-Thanksgiving, post-birth day in 2000 was the same great smile that greeted EJ and all of us throughout the years.
Paul passed away in Taiwan recently. I haven't received any information about the circumstances, yet. But I immediately felt that comfortable, quiet, soft presence of that gentle man. RIP, Paul. We will miss you.
Anybody want to take a guess at what the brown stuff is?
2 mallards at the rookery today. 45 degrees, sunny, a few clouds, very pleasant.
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