While some people spent 12/12/12 at a casino somewhere or getting married…I spent the rare triple day turning another year older. There are few places I would have rather been than spending my 24th birthday with old friends who really know how to bring in a birthday. The night, I received an awesome treat at a Japanese restaurant called honey toast!
Honey Toast is exactly what it sounds like. It was like eating breakfast with ice cream.
In front of the Japanese restaurant the night before my birthday.
Afterward, some old high school friends and I went to Dave & Busters! I did not do very well. I lost at Pac-Man, Connect Four, and pretty much everything. I’m pretty sure I ended the night with 20 tickets. I was NOT very lucky indeed!
This is random but I thought it was cool. Many things in Hawaii are written in English and Japanese.
Menu for my birthday breakfast.
Anyway, later that 12/12/12, a DIFFERENT set of friends took me out. We went to a restaurant that really reminded me of Hawaii called Sweet Home Cafe. At Sweet Home Cafe, you order a couple of broths, then purchase various plate of veggies and/or meats. The waiter puts the giant broths on burners in the middle of the table. Afterward, you and your friends just add in everything they want and everyone eats from the broths.
Even the dessert was communal.
The communal sharing aspect has Hawaii written all over it. I have not lived in Hawaii in more than five years. I have not been back in two years. Despite that, my old friends treated me like it was just yesterday since we have seen each other.
My friends Kallen and Chelsea treated me like a queen on my birthday.
I must say, spending 10 nights in Hawaii was amazing. I ran a marathon, got to see my old friends and eat some great local comfort food. However, I missed Chicago! I missed my cats, UIC, people in my department, Mr. Greeks and Potbellys. Even though few things are more beautiful than a sunset at Waikiki, i’m pretty sure I like my winters cold and my beaches from Lake Michigan. It’s great to be home.
Beautiful sunset at Waikiki.
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