decognition-blog

[decognition-blog]

Yesterday was my wife's birthday. We had so much fun on our date. I was able to get the afternoon covered at work and my mother was so happy to look after our little Bean. We left in the early afternoon, and got to New Braunfels a little after 4. From there, we went to San Antonio to an Olive Garden (which we'd been to once before). I ordered an eggplant parmesan and Laela ordered a spaghetti plate. Surprise, surprise, we had fried mozzarella as an appetizer: always delicious, as well as salad and the bread. We even had drinks. Our waitress was funny and a bit awkward. I guess she felt like she could be, since we are much younger than her other table.

After we finished and left, we went to ink couture. A tattoo place Laela says she'd seen on TikTok. The lobby looked very bougie, with big red tufted couches. My wife expressed that she, funnily enough, was feeling nervous about getting a new tattoo. Through the day, she had pieced together an idea for the tattoo she wanted: a very simple drawing of an elephant reaching up toward the sun. Around it, she wants: 'I keep my eyes fixed on my son,' like the Cage the Elephant lyrics, but with some changes. The artist was nice enough, he had an episode of Joe Rogan's podcast playing on the TV in the booth. Quite proud of himself, he mentioned that his shop was number one in San Antonio for 2 years, now. When we asked about the price for the tattoo, he made it clear that the idea would cost about $250. More than we had any intention to spend, so we passed on the lyrics, and went ahead with the rest.

I've never watched someone perform a tattooing. I still really haven't. I tried to not watch too hard, or even make jokes for fear that I might make him laugh or make him nervous and that he might screw it up. He didn't though, and it came out great! All in all, it took maybe five to ten minutes for the tattoo itself. We paid him at the front, and left for the next part of our adventure.

We headed for the river center mall to park. We did so, and headed down to the Riverwalk. We had a hell of a time finding the ticket booth. Laela asked a young man with a healthy beard in the gift shop which way we should go. Of course, the opposite direction which we'd just been walking. The streets and the river walk itself were bustling, despite it being a Wednesday night.

On the Riverwalk, there are many restaurants, and at one in particular there is always (probably not always) a mariachi there. I asked the gentlemen if they could play Las Mañanitas for my wife and they were so happy to oblige. I feel like it was out of our comfort zone but I could tell that she enjoyed it, and I know that I did.

We finally found the ticket booth and bought our tour tickets. We bought a blanket as well, it was just a little chilly. Getting on the little barge was a new experience. It's so interesting going on a tour somewhere that you've already been a hundred times. I never thought about the hundreds of years of non stop human activity that contributed to what the river walk is today. He talked about the churches, the bars, the flood gates, and the statues. The bronze bells and the Saint Anthony de Padua. He talked about the bridge from the Selena movie and the Fairmount hotel being moved in the mid eighties. It was quite relaxing. Floating on the calm waters, under a blanket with my wife while being driven on a guided boat tour somehow felt very safe and familiar.

When the tour ended we went back to the parking garage. On the way, there was a homeless man asleep on the bench. I figured it must have been cold and I asked my wife if I could give the blanket to him, hoping she wouldn't be too cold without it. I ended up placing it just next to him, afraid to wake him up and that it might upset him. Some other man shouted "God bless you sir!" to me, I felt some shame, honestly. I wanted to help him but I didn't want to be like those folks who only help others for the credit or to feel better about themselves and I didn't want to be seen like that. I wish I could have done more for him, but I did what I could in that moment.

Laela was afraid that someone would take it from him. I was not so convinced, after all, despite how she sees me, I'm not so special. I think others would do what they could for him too.

I had the greatest time with my wife on her birthday. It was a great great adventure and I can't wait for the next.

[decognition-blog]

Had a bath with my son today. He will be 4 weeks on Monday. I decided that I should start documenting and journaling each day or at least periodically so when I'm old, I can relive the little moments with my son and wife. Especially with my memory being as poor as it is. I filled a funny little hello kitty cup with some soap and dipped in a cloth and lathered it over his funny little body. He wiggles and writhes around just exploring what his little limbs are able to do. He pees in the bath too, of course. Then he was crying when I tried to rinse his little head and he was inconsolable. Laela pulled him from the bath to dry him and get him ready for bed but I wasn't ready.

Another thing: Salvador was screaming and crying and testing his little voice, it reminded me of the scene in the Lion King when Simba is in trouble and trying to roar and Mufassa shows up and roars with him to scare away the hyenas. He did his cry, and I waited for him to cry out again and I let out a big beastly roar from my belly and I scared him. Poor little guy.