Born in East L.A.

You know, every time I visit L.A. I think long and hard about when I'm going to return for good so I can be with my family.  Groceries for a feast for nine people yesterday cost about $50, including two whole fried trout with curry sauce; sauteed yellow chives; mild soup with tofu, ground pork meatballs, and fish balls; yum woonsen (glass noodle salad) with pork and shrimp; my mae's unbeatable cucumber salad; and stir-fried morning glory with chilies.  I stopped and sighed when I smashed open a clove of garlic and saw how creamy white, fresh and juicy it was. 

And the living spaces!  My friends Mark and Sara moved from a super slim one-bedroom walk-up on St. Marks Place to a palatial two-bedroom in Silverlake drowning in sunlight, two bathrooms, a washer/dryer, a dishwasher, panoramic views of the hills, two parking spaces, and a deck.  And they pay $400 less than they did for their East Village shoebox.   We sprawled out on the L.A. condo standard-issue cream carpet, munched on Trader Joe's snacks and watched the fireworks from their living room on Sunday night. 

Here are my cousin, my cutie mae, and our huge kaffir lime tree in the backyard.  Imagine -- kaffir lime leaves, limes, chilies, cherry tomatoes, and lemongrass  fresh from the garden.  And sunshine year round.  Don't hate me -- I love New York with all my heart, but I wouldn't kick L.A. out of bed.