86) My San Diego Trip

​Why were you there anyway?

My best friend's Uncle is retiring from the US Navy as Master Chief of 30 years.

How is your best friend related to Uncle?

My best friend's mother is the sister of Uncle's wife.

​Why attend anyway?

I am Shawn Hunter of TV show, "Boy Meets World." If you have not seen the show, Shawn gets along with his best friend's family.

I was in San Diego from July 13 to July 17. (FYI, my best friend flew with his sister and mother to SD.)

Before you read, I believe this is the longest blog post I have ever written. If you are impatient, read only the bold sentences.

Thursday night, July 13: I flew from Sacramento to San Diego. My best friend's cousin picked me up from airport. Then, we waited at the cell phone lot, until the others either texted or called us upon arrival. Somehow, their flights were delayed. Finally, everybody headed to Auntie's house at 11pm. When we arrived at Auntie's house, she cooked us chicken white (sauce) pasta for her favorite nephew. After we finished our dinner, we chilled and relaxed as we charged our phones. Before the big day will start tomorrow, everybody slept at 1am.

Friday, July 14: Uncle's retirement ceremony started at 10am in a naval museum. We left early at 8:45am. Before the retirement ceremony, we picked up Grandma's sister (She currently lives alone at a gated senior living community on the 7th floor. She is a widow. What fears me the most? Dying alone. She is a tough lady. Great news: She has a 50-year-old son to watch over her.)

​During Uncle's ceremony speech, he thanked his family, relatives, and relatives. He explained how he met his wife for the first time. This brightly caught my attention. He was stationed at Olongapo City, Philippines. Every time he went to military warehouse, he usually ran into a beautiful lady worker over there. She always gave him a gorgeous smile. (Almost like love at first sight.) Finally, he asked her out. Now, they are married with two daughters.

​Then, his dinner party started at 5pm in a hall. (The cousins and I went early to help them set up.) Auntie already placed the deserts on the table, and she set a big sign written, "Desserts are open at 7:30pm." (Obviously, it was tempting. A few people disobeyed, and snatched the deserts.)

Dinner party ended. We arrived at Auntie's house at 10:30pm. We were still hungry. Thus, we drove to a 24/7 drive thru Mexican spot that served carne asada fries. (We brought food at home.) After we finished food, we played a trivial video game together until midnight. From there, everybody slept.

Saturday, July 15: BBQ party started at lunch time. Uncle BBQed hot dogs and burger patties in his backyard. (They were delicious.) During the party, Uncle saw me talking to his nephews and niece. He told them something like, "Mike has his own YouTube channel, where he goes sitting next to people randomly." I showed them the video. They giggled.

Also, I told a story to his nephews and niece about this Technology Age. I said, "You all got it made. Life is easier than before. You can research anything with one touch of a button, unlike before. It's easier to communicate (to your crush.) No need to deal with father on phone, such as he picks up the phone and I have to ask, "Can I speak to your daughter."" They were amused and astonished.

After party, we decided to watch MLB game of San Diego Padres hosting San Francisco Giants at 5:40pm. We arrived over there riding the trolley. (My cousin rarely uses a trolley. Thus, it was an adventure for us.) The game ended with a game-winning run by the Padres at the 9th. (No extra inning after all. That's good. I'm not much of a baseball fan, anyway.) Fireworks happened after the game.

Once we rode on the trolley back home, we sat near a crazy guy ranting loudly on his phone. He continually kept on ranting. My cousins and I were entertained. (Everybody else was entertained as well.) It was difficult to laugh out loudly. Instead, we laughed out silently. I glanced at him with a smile. The crazy guy looked away with a smile. It did not seem like anyone was on the phone line with him. I assumed it was a hidden camera show. Apparently, it was not. (I kept checking for hidden cameras nearby. I saw nothing.) Why do you think that? I watch a lot of YouTube videos.

When did the crazy guy leave? He left a few stops before us. Before he left, he went on ranting again. He closely went to trolley door. He leaned towards window. He said something like, "I gotta go. Damn, I missed Taco Bell!" We assumed it was an emergency, like somebody died in his family.

After the trolley ride, we bought some kind of rum alcohol drink at a grocery store. The cashier told us, "She drank some type of Jamaican rum. An hour later, she was stuck dancing on a pole."

When we arrived at Auntie's house, the cousins and I were left alone. Why, so? Everybody else was gambling at a casino.

We saw cooked sphaghetti in the kitchen. Also, a few BBQ leftovers were laying. We ate the food.

How did you all end your night? We drank our rum, while we played a trivial game from Nintendo Switch. (Whoever lost in trivial game had to take a sip of rum drink.) Yes, we finished the whole bottle.

Sunday, July 16: Wimbledon men's championship between Roger Federer against Marin Cilic started at 6am. I woke up at 7:50am. (I was still tired from last night.) I missed the first 2 sets of match. Roger was up 2 sets to love against Marin. Obviously, I rooted for Roger. Yes, Roger won the match. (Earning his 19th grand slam.) Roger that!

The cousins, grandpa, and I went to movie theaters to watch, "War for the Planet of the Apes," at 1:40pm. Then, we went to Auntie's house.

Before everybody headed to the airport, we ate dinner together at a ramen noodle restaurant. (It was delicious.) Then, we split into different cars. I rode with cousin (mainly our host and driver), best friend, best friend's mother, and best friend's sister. Since their flight was a little later, we ate at a great Asian desert spot.

After my cousin dropped off best friend and his family at the airport, we went to Target store. (Everybody else flew back home on that night, except me and the grandparents.) She had to buy ice cream for Grandpa. (He loves ice cream. He instantly finishes a pint-size.) Uncle loves cider beers. I bought him a 4-pack cider beer as his retirement gift. Fact: According to his daughter, he has never tried this beer yet. He usually drinks either Angry Orchard's or Redd's. (I was supposed to buy him a cider beer growler-filled at a local brewery. This past weekend, time was slim.)

​Monday morning, July 17: I woke up at 4:40am. Then, my uncle drove me to airport at 5:10am. (Yes, I drank my coffee.) Grandpa tagged along as well. Uncle and I had a deep conversation on the drive to airport. (A 20-minute drive, but it seemed shorter.)

During our deep conversation, Uncle told me something like, "I had a friend. He always partied with the same crowd. When he needed something, his friends were never there for him. Something bad happened. He committed suicide." I told him, "He chilled with the wrong crowd."

He also told me, "Back in my school days, I was always a C or D-student. When you are a nasty (and mean) person, you will never succeed in life."

Also, he told me, "I enjoy seeing this cousin bonding."

(As I write this, I just realized there is a "trust-chain connection." What is that? I just made it up. My best friend and I were high school classmates. We unexpectedly became closer, after we graduated from high school in 2005. In 2009, he invited me to his cousin's 18th birthday cotillion. Obviously, he trusts me. To this day, his family trusts me. The relationship has grown stronger.)

Uncle and I continually talked. Bad news: We just arrived to airport.

Sorry, I should have taken pictures. Why, so? More pictures, less words. (Better off that way. Oh, well. Lesson learned.)

Remember, trust-chain connection. Yuh.