"Chinese Burritos" & the Camp Snoopy Magic Show

During a rainy February weekend trip to Los Angeles in 1986, a major Pacific storm forced the family to scrap their outdoor plans. They were staying at the Embassy Suites in Arcadia, and when they arrived at Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park, it was raining too hard, so they headed to Chinatown instead, where the Chinese New Year was underway. The kids "had a ball checking out the many little shops and street stands".

They ate at Hop Louie's, a restaurant Dad described as "very nice," and ordered Dim Sum. Mom tried to convince a skeptical five-year-old Matthias to eat an egg roll by calling it a "Chinese burrito". After one bite, Matthias issued his verdict: "I would rather have a Chandler burrito". Dad noted, "That was it for Chinese food for him for that day. He has had it often in the past, but kids get something in their heads, and that's it".

The next day, the weather cleared enough for Knott's Berry Farm. Mom, Dad, and Mom's sister Sharen supervised the little ones while the three older boys went off on their own.

A magic show in Camp Snoopy changed the dynamic entirely. "The magician asked at several junctures for volunteers," Dad wrote. "Every time Matthias' hand shot up. Finally, on the third try, he was asked to come to the stage". Dad was amazed: "I must admit that I was amazed that the little man actually went up there and participated in a loud, booming voice". Dana, not to be left out, "tried to follow him".

The magician asked Matthias his name but "couldn't, after two tries, pronounce it". When asked where he was from, Matthias gave a "loud 'Chandler!'". When the magician asked where that was, Matthias shouted, "Everybody knows where Chandler is!".

The show's climax arrived when the magician showed Matthias a coloring book with "a little cartoon magician's assistant on the cover" and asked if he liked girls in bikinis. Into the microphone, to the entire crowd, Matthias announced: "I like girls, but I don't know what Bikinis are".

They escaped Knott's by 8:00 PM, went back to the hotel, and "ate the Chinese and pizza leftovers" before getting to bed early.

The drive home the next day was tiring. Dad noted, "The TV isn't installed in the van yet, so the hope of thus keeping them from getting bored was dashed. The little ones were less hassle than the bigger ones". And waiting at home: "There are, of course, literally 30-40 loads of wash to do, most of which has to be cold rinsed first. The machines will run until Wednesday".