I got married one year ago, but there's already another woman in my life. An older woman. A much older woman. She's around 90. Her name is Teruko. She appeared outside the shop a few months ago, looking for a mailbox that once existed on our block. She was frantic, afraid her utilities would be shut off. I drove her check to the post office on 41st and Montgomery and all was OK. 

The next day Teruko brought me and Max inari. With soy sauce in old pill containers. She told me to pick her up the following morning and to "bring muscles". That's kind of how it goes now. I take her to the KP Asian market for the big hauls, and sometimes to the pharmacy or Piedmont Grocery. She is often in pain, so sometimes I just get a list. These have hilarious notes in the margin. Rice (5lb, drop on floor see if OK), Potatoes (only small balls), Underwear (next size smaller)...

She is alpha in the supermarket, and knows exactly where everything is. She'll tell me to get the hot sauce under the chicken. I'll head for the sauces in Aisle 7 and won't find it with the other bottles. Because it's at the meat counter, down low, under the chicken. Teruko is always right. And very particular. She once spent over 10 minutes considering a package of Genmaicha ("Less heavy today..."). But she is also quick and quirky, often answering questions before I have a chance to answer: "You ever have cereal with water?" ("Have I ev-?") "IT"S NOT GOOD!".

Teruko has had a rough life by just about anyone's standards. But she's one of those invincible types. Fierce and warm. Her wits always about her. She's not dismissive about the many things she has endured. But she'd rather talk about how much kimchi she can eat in one sitting, or how lucky we are to get such a close parking spot. She talks about how lucky she is in many ways. And how good the barbecues at the park smell. How beautiful today is.


Tonight at OAKLAND YARD: Thursday Night Flights.
White Flight: Chardonnay (California/France/Oregon) 
Red Flight: Grenache/Garnacha (CA and Spain)

Teruko is right. It's a beautiful day.
Teruko is always right.

See you tonight,

Daniel


p.s. Saturday will be beautiful too. And we have Mitch Schroeder of CHAMBERS & CHAMBERS pouring French & Spanish Flights SUN 3-6! It promises to be an exciting lineup. Infinitely better than cereal and water.