The lengths we go to for freedom and happiness

We took the baby out for dinner last night. It was our first meal out together since the baby was born almost a month ago. We chose a local sushi joint because it's family friendly and the food is reliable. I just noticed it's the only restaurant I've been to lately where the older waitresses still wear kimonos. Old school!

Our waitress, who was sporting a polo shirt, was very gracious and practically hand fed my wife while she was nursing the baby at our booth. We learned that she is Chinese, but from Tokyo. But the route she and her family took?

Her parents are originally from Shangdong, China. When the Communists took over, they fled to northern Korea. During the Korean War, they fled to southern Korea. She was raised in Seoul and moved to Taiwan at age 19. Taiwan at this point of the Cold War was welcoming the Chinese diaspora with college scholarships and other incentives. She did not like the humidity so she left Taiwan after just a year. She then moved to Okinawa, and finally settled and started a family in Tokyo. And eventually, she moved to California. That's a lot of moves!

First meal with baby at a restaurant a success! Plus, Jag! pic.twitter.com/EhJMz2gFS3

— Tamerlane's Thoughts (@TamerlaneBlog) May 4, 2017