Blushing at the Beach
July 25, 2008
This past week, our family went to Lake Tahoe to spend several days at a “Reading Retreat” (something my wife and I liked, but our kids likened it to solitary confinement). After being cooped up in a small cheap condo rental for a couple of days, we ventured out to the beautiful shores of Lake Tahoe. Susanna prepared a picnic lunch in an ice cooler and we went to Zephyr Cove where crystal clear water (99% pure) meet the spectacular beach shoreline.
We lugged our big bright fluorescent orange ice cooler and laid down two white towels (bath towels from the condo) on the sand and started taking out the packed food. Susanna asked, “Anyone want rice?” (clearly using her outdoor voice). Kristen and I turned to each other and blushed while Taylor confidently replied, “ME!” There was an elderly couple quietly lounging on the sand about 3 feet from where we set up kitchen, so I gently pulled our two white towels another 3 feet away from them. After all, chances are, they’re at Lake Tahoe wanting to enjoy the beauty of nature; if they wanted to be near rice, they would have gone to Asia to find Korean food at the beach! Next item on the menu was Korean squid which Susanna started announcing by asking, “Anyone want…” To which I quickly intercepted, “NO! Just sandwiches for me and everyone. Good old American sandwiches for all of us U.S. citizens!” After all, squids are supposed to be inside the water, not on pure clean beaches of Lake Tahoe, mixed with red chili pepper paste and garlic, served over steamed rice.
What a deal: Children ride free in July!
Kristen is at that age where she gets embarrassed by everything that we do or say. Taylor is still young, but give him another 4 years and he won’t even want to be within 6 feet of Mom & Dad. Susanna is at an age where she doesn’t mind what others think, “I’ll enjoy my Korean food here while others think whatever!” For me, I’m at an age where I still get embarrassed by those things; maybe I’m still young at heart! 
Who needs a hat? This covers 40% of your face!
The thing is, Kristen recently got a pair of sunglasses that’s making me blush. It’s humongous and covers up 40% of her face (might as well wear full-face shields that welders wear). She’ll blush when she sees this picture I’m posting here, but maybe then she’ll stop wearing these face shields and stop embarrassing me in public. 
Entry Filed under: About Life, Parenting Lessons. .
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1. akim | July 25, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Well, I think if I had Susanna’s food, I’d eat it anywhere, too…Thank you for this thoroughly enjoyable account of what just might be one of your last with Kristen after she sees this entry!
2. superrab | July 26, 2008 at 11:43 pm
I’ve never heard of anyone eating rice on the beach either, interesting.
3. jo | July 29, 2008 at 10:03 am
If you thought that was too Asian… I was riding in a van going towards an A’s game when one of our dear brothers had a craving for “jook” and we made a pit stop to get it. Being the thoughtful person that he is, he grabbed extra cups so he can share it with others. At the game, he was asking around if anyone wanted some…while people ate their sandwiches, hotdogs and peanuts. Also, I believe it was fish jook because that is his favorite… hmmm very interesting….
4. Mom | July 29, 2008 at 4:44 pm
I envy you your blessings – rice and korean dishes, squid with spicy
seasoning. Oh boy! That’s a great appetizer food anyplace, indoor or
outdoor, mountain or beach! Dad wants to have it anywhere!
5. joongwlee | July 30, 2008 at 8:06 am
Hi Mom,
If Dad were with us, Susanna would have made miso soup and brought that to the beach as well!
I think Kristen’s sunglasses look like the big ones that you used to wear many years ago. Maybe it’s in the genes…
6. eileen | July 30, 2008 at 10:49 am
Korean food at Tahoe… there was a time where I would’ve run away and gone into the car. I would’ve thrown a towel over my head and avoided all association with my family. But as I get older I realize I missed out. I miss my mom’s banchan!
P. Joong! You did not go there!! Kristen – if you read this, just say this, “Dear loving father of mine, this is not just a fashion statement. Do you want the sun to give me freckles or harm my skin?? Safety first.”
7. Elaine | July 30, 2008 at 11:00 am
This is now my favorite post. =)
There’s actually a hat with a tinted shield that angles down at a 45 degree angle towards the face so that there’s more protection from the sun, giving you a Power Ranger type of look. My dad actually wore this outside near me so I’ll take the 40% converage sunglasses any day of the week.
8. del | August 8, 2008 at 9:33 am
i once went to yosemite with my family and we cooked sapporo ichiban in a camping pot over an open fire, right in the middle area where our cabin neighbors could see and smell. to top it off, we brought out the kimchi which probably warded off the bears. at the time i was a kid so i didn’t feel any sense of shame, but in retrospect i can’t believe we did that.