Joe’s Birthday… 1 July 1973.
Joe,
Don’t think that I forgot your birthday, because I didn’t! I’ve been so freaking busy with work that I haven’t been able to get online and do any personal stuff. Anyhow, Happy 36th!!! Man, you’re an old fart, now… lol.
So get this, do you remember ever going to a restaurant with my mom and at the end of the meal her asking for a “to-go?” She would always put everyone else’s food in it and take it home. I was always so embarrassed by that. Well, tonight, I did the same exact thing and the worst part is that in Holland it’s not customary to do it, so everyone was looking at me like I was wierd. Ralph told me that in Holland people don’t ask for take out, they simply eat the entire meal (which are normally half the portions from back in the US). There was a group of women that sat across from us and they all looked over, so I felt the need to make a comment as to why I had the waitress bring me a container. I said, “I know this is not customary, here in Holland, but I don’t want this food to go to waste.” One lady asked me if it was allowed. I told her “yes” and she had an expression on her face as if she had wanted to do the same thing for years but was too embarrased to go against custom. Well, I have to say that after getting over the initial “embarassment,” I think I may have created a cultural shift, here. I bet the next time I go to that restaurant, I may see a to-go container or two on one of the tables! Lol…
Alright, enough reminising, I got to get to bed. I love you, bro!
p.s. Ralph says, “Happy Birthday en nog vele jaren (and many more years)” Oh yeah and tell my mom, Ofelita, the girls, my Tia, Rosa, and Marisol I say “I love you.”
Henry~
