La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
Today’s birthday boy, San Geraldo, asked me to help him pour the leftover chili into a container after dinner. SG poured the chili from the 235-pound (more or less) Le Creuset pot into the plastic container over which I held a large spoon “to keep it from spattering.” There was no spatter (well, one tiny drop on my face).
However, when SG placed the Le Creuset pot back on the counter, I pointed at the sizeable spill left behind. He was perplexed. “How did that happen?” he asked. “The pot has a leak,” was my reply. And then he lifted the pot and peered underneath to find the leak. Such a bright boy. Could I be more proud? And since today is his birthday, he’s another year brighter.
Merchi is here. Our usual coffee place was closed today. No sign. We wonder if it’s gone out of business. Things haven’t been going well there. One server is excellent. The other server is OK, and they never are there together, nor do they have consistent schedules. The owner-cook is pleasant but is clearly not investing in staffing or much else, and he’s rarely there. The tostadas aren’t wonderful. When the one server makes the coffee, it’s very good. When the other makes it, it’s mediocre
We walked another 3 minutes (for a total of 7) until we reached Roldan Patisseries, the largest of a few in the city. Always good. Always busy. We were especially pleased when the server (and there are many) recognized us and received us with a huge smile and warm welcome. Although we sometimes have to wait for a table here (and there’s no waiting list nor crowd control, so we need to hover), we may have to transfer our loyalties.
Merchi asked me about the Super Bowl. People here are very excited about Bad Bunny, the “Latino” presence, and the enlightened messages that were sent. They were also gratified by the message that “America” is more than just the United States. She asked if anyone actually watches the game. (American football is not understood here). My answer was, “hardly anyone I know. I watch the commercials and the halftime show.”
SG’s sister Leeann does faithfully watch and usually hosts a party. One year, we phoned during the game — forgetting there WAS a game. SG said, “Hi, what are you doing?” She announced to a houseful of people. “My brother wants to know what we’re doing!” Oh.
San Geraldo hasn’t decided what he wants to do for his birthday dinner on another very rainy day. He thought he might be happy with Burger King and watching a movie. Times have changed. His family celebrated big on birthdays. Mine usually did not.
Our first birthday celebration together, in 1982, he came home from work with a good friend and colleague and a bottle of champagne. I had brought home a dozen roses. I took him to an exclusive restaurant. When we got home, he said, “Well, that was OK, but you’ll really need to up your game next year.” And we’re still together!
El cumpleañero de hoy, SanGeraldo, me pidió que lo ayudara a verter el chili sobrante en un recipiente después de cenar. SG vertió el chili de la olla Le Creuset de 107 kilos (más o menos) en el recipiente de plástico, sobre el cual sostenía una cuchara grande “para que no salpicara”. No salpicó nada (bueno, una gotita en la cara).
Sin embargo, cuando SG volvió a colocar la olla Le Creuset en la encimera, señalé el derrame considerable. Se quedó perplejo. “¿Cómo ha pasado eso?” preguntó. “La olla tiene una fuga”, fue mi respuesta. Y entonces levantó la olla y miró debajo para encontrar la fuga. ¡Qué niño tan listo! ¿Podría estar más orgulloso? Y como hoy es su cumpleaños, es un año más listo.
Merchi está aquí. Nuestra cafetería habitual estaba cerrada hoy. No había señal. Nos preguntamos si ya no estará. Las cosas no han ido bien. Un camarero es excelente. El otro es regular, y nunca están juntos, ni tienen horarios fijos. El dueño-cocinero es agradable, pero claramente no invierte en personal ni en mucho más, y rara vez está. Las tostadas no son maravillosas. Cuando uno prepara el café, está muy bueno. Cuando lo prepara el otro, es mediocre.
Caminamos otros 3 minutos (para un total de 7) hasta llegar a la Pastelería Roldán, la más grande de unas en la ciudad. Siempre buena. Siempre concurrida. Nos alegró especialmente que el camarero (y hay muchos) nos reconociera y nos recibiera con una gran sonrisa y una cálida bienvenida. Aunque a veces tenemos que esperar por una mesa (y no hay lista de espera ni control de aglomeraciones, así que tenemos que esperar), puede que tengamos que ceder nuestra lealtad.
Merchi me preguntó sobre el Super Bowl. La gente aquí está muy emocionada con Bad Bunny, la presencia latina, y los mensajes inspiradores que se transmitieron. También les agradó el mensaje de que “América” es más que solo Estados Unidos. Me preguntó si alguien ve el partido. (Aquí no se entiende el fútbol americano). Mi respuesta fue: “Casi nadie que conozca. Veo los comerciales y el espectáculo del medio tiempo”.
La hermana de SG, Leeann, lo ve fielmente y suele organizar una fiesta. Un año, llamamos por teléfono durante el partido, olvidando que había partido. SG dijo: “Hola, ¿qué hacen?”. Anunció a una casa llena de gente. “¡Mi hermano quiere saber qué estamos haciendo!”. ¡Ay!
San Geraldo no ha decidido qué quiere hacer para su cena de cumpleaños en otro día lluvioso. Pensó que podría ser feliz con Burger King y viendo una película. Los tiempos han cambiado. Su familia celebraba los cumpleaños a lo grande. La mía no solía hacerlo.
En nuestra primera celebración de cumpleaños juntos, en 1982, volvió del trabajo con un buen amigo y compañero y una botella de champán. Yo había traído una docena de rosas. Lo llevé a un restaurante exclusivo. Al llegar, me dijo: «Bueno, no pasa nada, pero tendrás que mejorar mucho el año que viene». ¡Y seguimos juntos!
• ¡Pero sin salpicaduras!
• Parecía un día de paraguas a cuadros. Había muchos más, ¡pero llovía!
• Mi hermosa media tostada en Roldan.
• En nuestro barrio, el edificio mostaza del centro está en venta. Tengo curiosidad.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
Burger King and a movie? Happy Bday, San Geraldo!
Debra She Who Seeks:
Too bad we don’t have a shake shop.
Happy Birthday to San Geraldo, y ¡Feliz cumpleaños! Le Creuset is heavy stuff, but telling him there’s a hole in the pot — you tease. It’s cool that people liked Bad Bunny’s message.
Love,
Janie
janiejunebug:
I was happy to hear Merchi’s take. I think she’s even more aware and interested now that she knows us.
Happy birthday, SG! Never change…
I could just eat a chilli con carne now – or that jamon, or both! Jx
PS The arrangement of those buildings in the last photo, marooned in a paved area, is almost surreal. All it needs is a “melting clock”…
Jon:
That’s a panorama shot. I’ll have to take a normal shot for comparison. It’s an unusual space with the old tower on the left, but I think I made it look more unusual.
A Le Creuset with a hole? I’d be pissed if my very expensive pot developed a hole.
My husband’s family did not celebrate birthdays, mine did. After years of husband not ‘upping his game’ I reverted to his. If I want a birthday present I buy my own. He gets a ‘happy birthday’ in the morning from me and that’s it. A movie and dinner out was our standard birthday and anniversary do up until covid. We never revived it afterwards.
ellen abbott:
SG believes things I never expect him to believe. Throughout most of my childhood, my mother left a birthday card on the kitchen table for us in the morning.
Happy Birthday SG, I hope you have a wonderful day!❤️🎉 No Superbowl watching of any kind here. A hole in Le Crueset pot??? Wow, I’ve never heard of that! Growing up my family made a big deal of birthdays, Chuck’s family did nothing. For years we did sort of a middle road. Now it is a Happy Birthday first thing, a nice dinner at home and birthday person gets to pick what is watched on tv in the evening. Such excitement! Our first birthday celebration was in 1982 also. Take care!❤️
Robin:
Here, we sing each other Happy Birthday at midnight to get things started.
All the best to SG!! Wherever you go, enjoy!
Interesting looking building that is. I am imagining what you would do to this.
Jim:
I’m so curious to see what the inside of that place looks like.
Happy Birthday, SG! XOX Mary
Mary:
He says thanks to you all!
¡Feliz cumpleaños, Jerry! and, while we’re at it, Joyeux anniversaire! I’m enjoying your book, and recently read about birthday parties… now… was it Mitchell’s 40th, or yours? Can’t recall… but, it was big doings 🙂
I really like those umbrellas 🙂
Judy C:
His 50th was when his mother didn’t believe that was really a birthday cake. That was a great party. I was proud of myself.
Happy birthday SG! Another trip around the sun, which you might see one of these days.
The chili was too good to spill. Boud
Boud:
The sun is shining right now! It will be gone again tomorrow. Bet your bottom dollar. Isn’t that how the song goes?
I think we have that same Le Creuset pot! (But ours is green.) It IS heavy. It barely fits in our dishwasher and I groan every time Dave uses it.
I’ve never been much of a birthday person. I’m happy with a dinner out.
Steve:
SG went to buy a new pot at the outlet mall in Málaga. The salesperson pointed out the sale which made the largest pot cheaper than the next size down. So he bought it. And we regret it. It weighs a ton and I, too, groan every time SG uses it. I was more like you when it came to birthdays. SG assumed the world we stop for his. And it usually did.
Happy Birthday to SG!! I hope he’s enjoyed his “special day”.
Kelly:
It turned out well, as far as days go lately.
Happy birthday to that man of yours who checks to find the hole in a Le Crueset pot. I believe a power auger (is there such a thing?) would be needed to put a hole in one of those.
I love that video. I used to sing my kids that song and they loved it. It’s so silly.
Isn’t Odetta beautiful? And so is Henry.
Ms. Moon
Ms. Moon:
Oh, yeah, power augers exist. I remember Odetta and Harry Belafonte doing that performance on TV. I was only 5 and thought it was the funniest song in the world. Seeing the video still makes me happy. I think Harry Belafonte was my first ever crush. It never faded, either.
Harry! Not Henry! Where was my mind? Of course. And he is definitely crush-worthy.
Ms. Moon:
I knew who you meant… and he was playing Henry in the song.
I distinctly remember watching Harry Belafonte and Odetta sing that song when I was a young teen. It made a powerful impression on me.
Nina:
I was only 5 and had the same powerful impression.
Clearly you have upped you game after all these years, even if it’s Burger King and a movie.
¡Feliz cumpleaños, SG!!!
Bob Slatten:
I don’t think I did very well. I didn’t even get him flowers. But it was a good day and he was happy.
Happy Birthday SG!!! Greetz from Perth; Jan & Dean.
Jan & Dean from Perth:
Thanks on his behalf. He’ll read the comments today I’m sure.
Happy birthday, San Geraldo! Enjoy the Whopper!
Kirk:
We’ve graduated to Crispy Chicken. In the ’80s, our standard order was 2 double Whoppers, 2 large fries, and 2 chocolate shakes.
Warm birthday wishes to SG!
Walt the Fourth:
Thanks. At least warmer than where you are.