Growing up with Wild Pepper

My wife and I lived near this block for more than 6 years. In that time, we met many of the neighbors and many of the local businesses. The one that made the most impact on me was Ming, the owner of Wild Pepper.

I remember vividly the time that I was out for a run and hadn't eaten breakfast yet. I stopped by the restaurant to say hi to Ming and he said, "Jun, have you eaten yet?"

"No, I haven't."

"No, wonder. Come in, come in. Eat something." 

And Ming gave me a feast to eat and wouldn't accept payment. I'll never forget his kindness and generosity.

When Kim and I had Juniper, we often took walks around the neighborhood. In one of the photos you'll find Juniper, just over a year old, walking around the block with Wild Pepper in the background. We would often visit Ming.

After moving out of the block, and because of the pandemic, it had been several years since we saw Ming. Today we were out for a drive and needed some good food for the kids. We decided to stop by to see if Ming was still there, and of course, he welcomed us with open arms.

Here is Mr. Ming with my family -- now with my two daughters. 

Ming is a proud family man with 2 daughters and a son of his own. Today he proudly showed me pictures of his youngest daughter getting married. Although business has slowed because of the pandemic, Mr. Ming continues to be a joy to visit. 

Juni y Kimbi

A si es la vida mis niñas. La gente responde cuando te presentas con confianza. Cuando le das cariño a alguien, ellos también te daran cariño. En esta vida, es importante conocer a la gente de to comunidad. Asi nos ayudamos y apoyamos para seguir adelante. 

- Papi