it goes to show you that you never can tell

Today we had a surprise visit from my godparents and their two daughters! We went out for dim sum and Chinese grocery shopping in the Chinese village near my dad's old workplace. There was the ubiquitous yet amusing ordeal of having family friends accept/diss my college application choices ("Havahd? You mean that crumbling brick institution up Mass Ave?" Then imagine that paired with a slightly North Carolinan accent.) but thankfully we didn't dwell on that so much this time. I'm fully convinced that my godfather is the wittiest, raunchiest Catholic who bears an eerier resemblance to James Earl Jones/Colin Powell in existence.

This time I actually got to talk to Kathleen and Sarah who seem to be really interested in tamagachis, those beeping digital pet things that were really popular when I was in elementary school. It's just a little freaky to see those two interested in all of the things that were popular when I was their age; am I really that much older now? At least we didn't have any of those awkward "I have no idea what to talk about" silences, and Kathleen thankfully hasn't reached tween angst yet. Not only that, but they make all of the snarky comments about dried squids and mysterious mushrooms that I'm too shy to say. I'm glad that they're still willing to confide in me. They're the closest I have to sisters, and I'm going to miss them wherever I end up for the next four years.

Next Tuesday I'll be seeing Katie, a family friend's daughter who's currently going to Wellesley with cutemew. Imagine a prom queen crossed with a jock and you'll have a superficial impression of her. I still remember when I slept over at her house every few weeks and her dad, Uncle Henry to me (the only Chinese Kentucky farmboy I know), would always tease me about my dislike of cauliflower. And every time I went Katie would insist on painting my nails a very bright color and blast bubblegum pop music-those sleepovers were my first introduction to the Spice Girls-as we waved our fingers in front of her dinky tabletop fan. Their adopted orange tabby cat had a rather luxe penchant for lobster. Sadly, I haven't seen Katie since I was thirteen; the last time I tried to organize an outing with her she forgot to show up. We haven't really had any big summer barbeques with them and my dad's other friends since then, either. Needless to say we're not exactly close anymore, but I'm curious to see how she's doing now. I hope that lunch next Tuesday won't be too awkward.

Random note to self: Stop looking at so many online course catalogues of places where I probably won't end up. If only that seminar on death and dying in Romantic compositions didn't satisfy my fetish for fatalistic Romantic music...