Daddums

My parents don't embarrass me anymore. I think pretty much everyone hated going out in public with their parents during their teenage years, right? Those days are long gone for me. About the only time I get embarrassed is when my mom is driving at 25 mph in a 45 zone where everyone else is going 60. When I find myself in this situation, I like to direct my gaze--past all the people giving us the finger as they whiz by--far away into the beautiful California sky.

There's this coffee house called Royal Grounds on Shattuck and Durant, about 3 blocks from my apartment where I like to go to study. It's a nice place with a bunch of tables and power outlets, and wireless internet to boot. I go there so often that I can recognize the regulars, and the workers know my usual order. A few days ago, I took my dad there (he was visiting from Japan) since both he and I needed to get some work done. I acknowledged a few of the regulars with The Nod, and sat down with my dad. After an hour or so, he was done with his work, and seeing that I still had a lot to do, he decided to go for a walk.

"Okay dad, I'll see you later. Call me if you get lost...or something."

He had caught me in the middle of a proof, so I promptly focused back to what I was working on. I almost didn't hear the click, but the accompanying flash that filled the room, reflected off the glossy pages of my Data Structures textbook.

I looked up and saw my dad disappear through the glass doors. I looked around the room, and people immediately turned away.

Man... It's been awhile.