Family Values

Last night the 6 eldest Luis grandchildren went to Solita's Nightclub/Restaurant in Daly City. My cousin, Eeko, used to work there back in high school. I was jealous because I wanted to work there too [you know, the old family competitiveness] but since I was in Alameda I had no way to get out there. He left after a year or so and hasn't been back since. I was bored one night so I rolled by the club a few years ago to say hi, and though I always meant to come back, I never got around to it.

So anyway, while my youngest brother, VAL, was playing poker against the uncles, the rest of us were outside partaking in the habit of smoking tabacco. We were talking about going out, and someone brought up the idea of Solita's. It turned out that we were all free Friday night, so the plans were set. Since the youngest of us is now 22, we can all go out and enjoy ourselves legally. This is actually the first time we've all gone out for a non-holiday occasion.

We got there early by the club's standards, and quickly downed a shot of Hennessey. Then we ordered dinner: dinuguan, crispy chicken, pork sinagang, bbq spareribs, pansit canton and garlic rice. Unfortunately, those weren't enough for 7 hungry peeps [it was actually the 6 cousins + 1 BF + 1 daughter] so we ended up doubling up the order. Afterwards, we headed back to my cousin's house for more drinking and more gambling. I was out $14 after the second game. I'm starting to realize that I suck at card games!

Anyway, growing up my brothers and I saw less of our Luis cousins because they lived across the Bay in Daly City. We grew up more with my mother's side, the Hipols, because we were all pretty much East Bay raised. It's funny how growing up a little can change things. We get along really well with the Luis side whereas we've seemed to grow apart from the Hipol side.

Hopefully that changes in the future, because one should not favor one side of their family over the other, although that does seem to be wishful thinking in many people's case.