Taipei at the End of July

Jon has left us, but it’s like he’s never left us.

Me, looking at some nice tea cups. Caleb: “Those don’t look easy to bring home.”

Us, wandering around in the sweltering streets. Caleb: “Should we look at the map?”

Me, looking at some washi tape. Caleb: “Papa said we can’t fit any more stationery in the luggage.”

Us, staring up at a second floor bookshop, no elevator, Junia asleep in the stroller. Caleb: “We’re not going to make it.”

We are making do. We are subwaying around the city, hunting down my photo printer cartridges, Caleb is navigating us from one place to another following Google map directions, Junia has consumed her weight and then some in these little yogurt milk drinks available at 7-11s and Family Marts, Naomi is having rainbow conversations with grandmas on the subway, we are slurping up one soup noodle after another.

We got caught in another rainstorm today, the paper bag hanging off the stroller slowly disintegrating, the children pleading for bubble tea, Junia back in her garbage bag era, everyone unhooking things and schlepping our bags and baby up the stairs to the third floor trying to dodge the cockroaches and lizards. When we got inside, it was like the kids had the zoomies, shaking the rain off their fur, stripping down and leaping about the furniture, even the baby, finally sprung from her chariot. What an adventure! Getting wet!

Illegal MRT bun eating. Gleeful at everyone else’s hunger around her.