This morning, Julie and I had another one of those very ordinary mornings that somehow turned into a full day's adventure.
We started with breakfast at Golden Horse Café. I had satay with slices of beef, while Julie had a sandwich with scrambled egg and processed pork. We both had tea with milk.
A good start. Grandpa was properly fuelled.
After breakfast, we went to FreshCo to buy a few things—some oranges and tenderloin pork. Then we went home, unloaded the groceries and put everything safely into the refrigerator.
Mission accomplished.
But we were not finished yet.
We got back into the car and headed to Hillcrest Mall.
Of course, no visit to the mall is complete without a coffee. We stopped at Tim Hortons and enjoyed our usual little break.
Then we had some business to take care of. We went to the pharmacy to pick up our medicines for the month. I also picked up the eye drops I need before my upcoming cataract surgery.
So there I was, an 80-year-old Grandpa walking around the mall with coffee in one hand and pre-cataract-surgery eye drops in the other.
Not exactly the glamorous life I imagined when I was young!
But life is life.
By lunchtime, we were ready for something more interesting than medicine.
We bought BBQ pork and char siu with rice. The portion was generous, and the meat was delicious. The restaurant also gave us a complimentary house herbal tea. Then, somehow, they gave us another one free.
I wasn't going to argue with that.
And then I discovered the crispy roast pig skin.
Oh boy.
That was the part Grandpa really enjoyed.
The skin was crispy, the meat underneath was tender, and I immediately forgot about all the medicine and eye drops for a few minutes. At 80, I have learned that you should appreciate life's little pleasures when they appear—especially when they come attached to roast pork.
I probably should not say too much about the crispy skin to my doctor.
"Doctor, my eye surgery went well."
"Good. And what did you eat?"
"Let's talk about something else."
😂
Looking back, our morning was really just a series of everyday errands.
Breakfast at Golden Horse.
FreshCo for groceries.
Home to unload everything.
Hillcrest Mall.
Tim Hortons coffee.
Pharmacy and medicine.
Eye drops for my next cataract surgery.
Then BBQ pork and char siu for lunch.
Nothing extraordinary.
But perhaps that is exactly what makes it special.
At this stage of life, Julie and I don't need every day to be exciting. We just enjoy being together, getting things done, having a good meal, meeting people along the way and finding something to smile about.
Today, the smile came from a generous restaurant meal—and especially that crispy roast pig skin.
Sometimes Grandpa Journey is not about a big trip or an important event.
Sometimes it is simply about breakfast, groceries, medicine, coffee and good food with Julie.
And if crispy pork skin happens to be involved, Grandpa is definitely paying attention.
Another ordinary day. Another little story. Another day of the journey.
And yes, Grandpa is still going.
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