Pancake & Book Talk

I haven’t had a Sunday breakfast over newspaper and company for a long time owing to my early-bird yoga class. But this past Sunday was between two courses and I got a break. Ken and I, upon returning from the retreat, indulged in the delicious home-style breakfast at the popular Millbrae Pancake House on El Camino Real near the airport. The place is always packed and even more so during weekends. We got there at about 10:30ish after the church crowd left and before Sunday school got out and still had to wait about 10 minutes.

This mom-and-pop breakfast joint is still owned by the same family who opened its door for business on Mother’s Day in 1959.  The secret to its towering success is the fresh ingredients and the generous portion. The stack pancakes and the must-have swedish pancakes (very thin, almost crepe-like, pancake topped with strawberry butter and syrup) are made from scratch and are the staples of the house. We always make sure we have a combo with swedish pancakes. On this particular visit, I tried the Hawai’ian golden waffle with coconut, banana, and pineapple; while I forked over Ken’s hash brown, corn beef and swedish pancake combo.

While waiting for our food, we were reading the Sunday paper and our server, Mary, spotted my beaten, yellow, brittle copy of Lost Horizon and began chatting with us about books–1984, Brave New World, and something she recommended me to get–The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. These titles all share the common notion in the wayit  explores themes in subjugation, and the various means by which they gain agencyy, against a backdrop of the establishment of a totalitariann theocratic state.

After breakfast, of course, I darted into the store and got myself a copy, which for sure will jump the line of reading. What’s a better way while away Sunday than to indulge in pancakes and books?

Lover’s Concerto

How gentle is the rain,
That falls softly on the meadow.
Birds high up on the trees,
Serenade the clouds
With their melodies.

See there beyond the hill,
The bright colors of the rainbow.
Some magic from above.
Made this day for us, just to fall in love.
You’ll hold me in your arms,
And say once again you’ll love me.
And that your love is true,
Everything will be just as wonderful.

Now I belong to you,
From this day until forever.
Just love me tenderly
And I’ll give to you
Every part of me.

Don’t ever make me cry,
Through long lonely nights without us.
Be always true to me,
Keep this day in your heart eternally.

You hold me in your arms,
And say once again you love me.
And that your love is true,
Everything will be just as wonderful.