Cheesecake Boogaloo, West Coast Shuffle

In today's post, first I'll go back a month in time to September 2015, then leap forward to July 2016. The entire tale revolves around Johnny, one of Dad's best friends. They met at Miami University (in Oxford, Ohio, not in Miami, Florida) last century. I've met him several times, most recently during virtual get-togethers. He's a special person and worthy of my longest and best tale ever! 🥇

A glance at the first photo will probably raise questions in your mind. What's going on there, Tango? And what's with that delectable slice of cheesecake on the glass table? I'll get to the answers in a moment, but first let me tell you about Johnny. Originally from Ohio, he lives near San Luis Obispo in central California and is a box expert. Ever looked at the cardboard boxes in the supermarket? Next time you're there, check out the impressive ones containing California mandarin oranges, for example. They're extremely difficult to conceive, produce in large volume and market. With over 40 years of experience, Johnny excels at selling boxes that satisfy California produce growers' needs. One night during his September 2015 stay with us, Mom and Dad threw a party for him and other old friends from Dad's college days.

You may recall my description of my first New Year's party held in December 2011. Well, Mom did it again👏😍. Platters of Korean delicacies she made herself covered the entire 3 feet x 5 feet granite island. Johnny, Ted and Ted's wife Dianne ate like they'd never eaten before, leaving not enough room for dessert, a delicious New York-style cheesecake. The solution to the problem was a vigorous form of exercise called 'noraebang'🧑‍🎤🎶🎤, Korea's version of karaoke. Open the thick song book, choose a song you love and enter its number into the remote device. Next thing you know, you're belting out a tune, getting scored by the machine, and having a great time even when the soundtrack laughs at your woeful attempt. 😂

After Dad set up the equipment, everyone took turns singing American and Korean songs—everyone but me. I can eat non-stop and had plenty of room for dessert! Seriously, what else was I supposed to do? I don't know the words to any Bruce Springsteen or Queen songs, so while everyone else was crooning and dancing, temptation seduced me. Johnny's slice of cheesecake practically called out to me, and I got up on my hind paws and went for it, delayed but a moment by the outstanding dance move you see him busting with Diane.

At the end of Johnny's visit, he invited us to stay with him in California, and we made a promise on the spot to drive the 8,000 miles there and back during Dad's 2016 July-shutdown vacation.

None of us had ever been on such a long car journey. Like always, Mom and Dad shared driving. Eight hours one day, nine hours the next. Through the flatlands of Indiana, Missouri and Kansas, to the foot of the Colorado Rockies and beyond, all the way to the Left Coast. You'll get the picture in some photos I have attached. Dad tells me now, one of his goals was to show me the Pacific Ocean. I'd seen the Atlantic down in Miami and flown to the other side of the Pacific when we visited Korea. Johnny's house, surrounded by palm trees, was a minute's walk from the Pacific, also known as the "peaceful sea". A beautiful setting… that scared me, like all oceans do!

We spent several days at Johnny's and had the greatest time. He had an extra room for us, complete with a bathroom. For breakfast, we enjoyed several treats new to us. Toasted Dave's Bread slathered with Kerrygold Irish butter, and washed down with French-press coffee for breakfast. One afternoon, Johnny ran a work errand and returned with a die-cut sample box he'd soon review with a customer for final approval. Dad knows a lot about manufacturing things, and he and Johnny enjoyed talking about the box's design. One night Johnny took us in his Lexus with the slick wooden steering wheel to San Luis Obispo, also home to California Polytech University. But the best day by far we spent at nearby Pismo Beach. Johnny took us to a pier restaurant, and we enjoyed a delicious lunch of fish and fries before returning to his house.

It was tough to say goodbye to Johnny, but we had to return to Ohio after a stay of just a few days. We took a slight detour to Sequoia National Park. several hours northeast of his house. Mom and Dad had a great time there, seeing up close the magnificent General Sherman sequoia and other towering trees. Forbidden by the rules to enter, I stayed behind in the parking lot and guarded the Odyssey 💂.

We took a more southerly route home, through New Mexico and Arizona. Two highlights are worth sharing. The first was a lunch stop at an In-N-Out Burger restaurant 🍔. Mom, whose favorite fast food until that moment had been a Wendy's cheeseburger, was duly impressed by the freshness of In-N-Out's cheeseburger and the exquisite simplicity of its menu. The second was Grand Canyon National Park. We visited the southern entrance after a long day in the car. Look at me in those photos! The sights were so exhilarating, a few minutes after we left I had no choice but to 💩 when the urge suddenly struck me. Don't worry. Like always, Mom and Dad were prepared, and I didn't leave behind a souvenir for the rangers.

Unfortunately for Dad, he suffered three disappointments on the way home. He wanted to visit Trinity Site near Alamogordo, New Mexico. That's where, on July 16, 1945, the United States completed the first atom bomb test, a world-changing event that helped to end WWII less than a month later. Besides being deep in the desert, the historical site was too many hours out of our way. Also, he wanted to make quick stops at Harry S. Truman's and Dwight D. Eisenhower's Presidential libraries in Independence, Missouri (HST) and Abilene, Kansas (DDE) to thank them. He tells me that without their commitment to helping Korea during and after the Korean War, bad things would've happened and Mom and Dad probably never would've met. Meaning, of course, that there'd be no Tango either, no Tango's Tales, and much less joy in the world 😄. Dad blames himself for us not visiting. He forgot to adjust his watch for time-zone changes, and we neared each museum after closing hours. So, to support my dad, I want to raise a bowl of kibble to #33 and #34 and say THANKS! We're doing our best to earn the gift you gave us.

What a trip! Vast prairies, snowy mountains, blue ocean, titanic trees, endless deserts, a gracious host. We drove the equivalent of one-third of the way around the earth and most of the way from Ohio to Korea. I spent the car drive either recharging my batteries or scouting the scenery to protect my parents. Dad's lucky to have such a good friend as Johnny. Next time, I'll tell you about my best friend.

Until then, thanks for visiting my website!

Tango🐾