How to use this Page

My friend Sylvia suggested it. A housewarming. When I said goodbye to her in Big Sur, she said something like you'll have to invite me to your housewarming. I said sure, but I was like, really? But, we don't really know very many people up here, and well, there's just so much moving-in left to do, and we are still in boxes, and Mx just arrived home and I don't even know where to shop yet, and we're just renting, and we aren't going to be here very long, and what food would I serve, and I'm still trying to figure out why the story I've been writing for five years matters and, well, fill-in-the-blank. So I sent out invitations to neighbors I've just barely met and we sent Facebook event e-vites to the folks we know in the area.

But there was this question I wouldn't allow myself to even think about ...what if no one came? Admit it, that's got to be one of the biggest fears of a party-thrower, right?

Well, it was wonderful. And the weather last Saturday was beautiful. We had a great crowd and I made all the Indonesian food I love and people were into it. Thank goodness we had a spicy-food crowd. Joe's mom even came and so did her dog, Lovey, which made Oso very, very happy. Another neighborhood dog stopped by too, Molly. She was lots of fun. It was so much fun seeing people we hadn't seen in a while while we made new friends too. Couldn't have pulled it off without Mx and Joe. Mx was in charge of music and Joe was at the blender and BBQ. And I found my new mantra.

As we move around sometimes the only thing that feels familiar are our traditions. What really makes a tradition, anyway? Seems like you have to to the thing more than once, right? Or, is it just that you did it once and it meant so much to you? Or that whatever you are doing brings back memories that are tied to the event somehow? We are having a housewarming party this Saturday from 2-6 PM and you are all invited. I'll be cooking Indonesian food, as I did for our last housewarming party in So Cal. I don't quite know why we never had a Barrelwarming party or a party when we moved to the South Coast of Big Sur, but, well, we are now.

Anyway, cooking Indonesian food is something my Dad taught me. He was born there. And now that I'll be making it for two housewarming parties, and we'll undoubtedly have lots of houses to, well, warm in the next few years, I believe I can say that we now have a housewarming tradition. And, it's all about the right spices. I'll be honest, it's not easy to find the exact spices that I need to make the food that I do. But, Dad, you'll NEVER believe it! I've got this GREAT place right in San Jose. The Holland Pastry & Gift Shop I only have to drive like 40 minutes:) If I had my act together I could just order online. AND YOU CAN TOO:) Ahhhh....you'll have your Seorundang soon!!!!

So I'm skipping to my car this morning to buy what I need for the fiesta on Saturday. Woohooo! I love skipping, I should do it more often.