May the Force be With Your Butt

Mama Lai took me to see Star Wars when I was young so when I had a chance to make a purchase at the store at ILM (Industrial Light & Magic), I thought it would be fun to get her some Darth Vader slippers. 

When I handed them to her, she looked at Darth Vader's face and said:

"Why are you giving me someone's butt to wear on my feet?"

 After reviving myself from my fit of laughter, I explained to Mama Lai that these were Darth Vader slippers.  Mama Lai said:

"I never realized it, but Darth Vader looks like someone's butt."

Definition of a Good Writer

I arranged a dinner for Papa Lai and his favorite writer, Kamran Pasha ("Shadow of the Swords"; "Mother of the Believers") during our visit to Southern California.  Papa Lai and Kamran engaged in a lively religious/historical discussion and Mama Lai listened to their discourse wide-eyed.  Mama Lai has been hearing Papa Lai gush about Kamran's writing for months.

When we get back to the car, Mama Lai turns to me and says

"Wow, he is really an impressive person. You know...he's a really great writer.  His book has so many words and no pictures."

Papa Lai Invents

Papa Lai invented this.  Can you guess what it is? 

Chopped Liver

I was telling Mama Lai about a friend who is in town who whilst getting his PhD is also closing million dollar deals.  Mama Lai cackled:

"Well, now I know you're chopped liver."

Joys of Having Children

I've been swearing to Mama Lai that my biological clock is ticking and joked to Mama Lai that maybe I should reboot my career and become a surrogate.  Garnering her experience from churning out three of her own, Mama Lai laughed:

"You silly girl.  Pregnancy is the most miserable part of having children!  The best part is...."

And then Mama Lai's smile disappeared and she thought, and she thought, and she thought.   A minute later she said:

"Actually I don't know what joy there is." 

Papa Lai and Mama Lai Competition

Mama Lai is traveling in Asia without Papa Lai.  Papa Lai has been sending me cute e-mails on how to take care of his wife, but even in the midst of the TLC there's always some room for some healthy, old people competition:

"[Mama Lai] is not good at falling, unlike me, so help her over stairs and curbs, especially when there's ice and snow."

Postcard Picking

Mama Lai and Duckie took a weekend getaway at a seaside town.  Duckie wanted to buy a postcard for her friend who lived on the other side of the country so they popped into a bookstore.  Mama Lai browsed through the pretty postcards of the ocean and beaches.  Bypassing the postcards of cute otters frolicking and adorable sea lions, Mama Lai honed in on one that looks like this:

"Oh!  This one!  This one is Nice!"