Cuong Ngo
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Grandma used to work for La Madeleine when it was just single bakery cafe on Mockingbird near SMU campus. For the most part, our whole family work there, my mom and dad, aunt, uncle and even Cau Hai and Mo Hai. The company grew and expanded rapidly, with that, as a small growing company, La Madeleine loved its employees, to which they threw these elaborate Christmas parties on the SMU Campus. Back in the late 80’s and early 90’s they gave away big presents like television sets, VCRs, handheld video recorder, etc for their employees. For the employee’s children they gave us, age appropriate toys. So basically, the whole family at that time was at the Christmas party. Picture this, my siblings and cousins lined up to receive a single toy from Santa Claus. After getting our toy we’d run back to our table only to have grandma take the toy from us and hid it under the table. She told me to make myself look different while she took off the jacket that I was wearing. Mind you, I’m the eldest grandkid about 9 years old and had no clue what the heck was going on, but I thought to myself, grandma has never steered me in the wrong direction in my whole life. So, what did I do, my hair was comb from left to right, with my hand I slicked my hair from right to left, making myself look “different”. Grandma took me back to the Santa line and I waited until my turn again, little did I know I was a 9 year old kid committing fraud with his grandma while receiving my second toy. Till this day I still wonder what was going through Santa’s mind, looking at old photos we were the only Asian family at the Christmas party, Santa had to have known that I was same Asian kid disguised differently each time received 4 toys.
Speaking of SMU, I was accepted to a few universities, but grandma said that she really wanted me to attend SMU. I am not entirely sure why she liked SMU so much or even why she wanted me to study there. I found myself eating at the original La Madeleine far too often. For lunch sometimes I would order takeaway and enjoy it with both grandma and grandpa. Her favorite was the Caesar Salad, extra dressing and extra “too-cons”, her way of saying croutons. She also loved the rustic slices of sourdough bread with her salad. After lunch, I’d rush back to campus and continued with my classes. Years after graduating from SMU, ever so often, I would need my La Madeline fix, but subconsciously I don’t think it was a food craving, it’s my memory needing to revisit familiar aromas and taste, triggering moments of happiness with grandma.
These are a few quirky and witty moments I had with grandma. She taught me so much about life and I will never forget all the times that we had together. Grandma, you walked with me down the aisle on the most important day in my life. You were there with me as I took my first breath in life. Now that you are reunited with grandpa, I know that Ong and Ba Ngoai will always by with me for every milestone in my life.
Your Loving Grandson,
Cuong Ngo
