The General's Visit accompanied by the Philosopher King

My parents visit every 14 months or so, and each visit has unmistakably the same flavors. Within a packed span of less than 40 hours, there is mounds of sea creatures consumed preferably live if not raw as well as the gluttony of figs, blueberries, peaches and the like. EJ(my birth mother) will wake up at 4 in the morning making herself useful scrubbing and cleaning the kitchen. Planned activities in Berkeley which I thought would consume the whole day would take no more than 2 hours(going to the marina ends up as 15 minute excursion), and hence there is a lot of hanging out in pajamas rehashing the stories of old. At any point, Hugo can spring the requisite political philosophy lecture, thankfully only one per visit.

Only a month ago when I visited my parents, Hugo was heavily into German philosophers. At the breakfast table, he singsongs in his most casual tone, "H, do you know Kant?" To which J tartly replied "You mean personally?". We all giggled. Who wants to be harassed with the categorical imperative so early in the morning.

So this time I thought I was on the alert. While we were all lazing about all too pleasantly, he snuck in a "Do you know this Bandam?" To which the right reply would have been "Yes, I don't think Kick Boxer II was as good as Kick Boxer I." But too late as he gave me, C and the walls a full lecture on Jeremy Bentham and the rise of utilitarianism. There's something special about a man who thinks people want to hear a speech on Bentham with no pretext or context. You can get the flavor in his very words below (I'm not making this up. He actually e-mailed this yesterday.)

Dear C and H:

It was one of happiest trips. EJ and I enjoyed very much, and we were glad to see you have a happy home. Happiness lies in satisfaction. There are three ways to obtain satisfaction in economic sense: (a) to reduce demand or desire, (b) to increase income or productivity, and (c) to maximize utility subject to limited budget.

Obviously my dad's advice comes to late for Mick Jagger. As the duo is my genetic template, I'm ever on the alert for my biologic destiny.