“Soup is cozy.”
The morning is beautiful. The sun is so bright I had to shade my eyes when I went to get the papers. The sky is the deepest blue and goes on forever, unmarred by a single cloud. There is not even a wisp of wind. I filled the bird feeders. When I was outside, the only sounds were bird songs. It is a bit chilly but warmer than yesterday. The temperature is already 49˚ and will get as high as 55˚. I’m staying home today.
Last night was fun. I actually ate dinner with friends who always cook my favorites. Dinner was sausage and plantain, the sweetest plantain. There was also salad and rice, but they are humdrum, and I mention them only in passing. My friend has a raised bed garden. Okra is one of her crops. I mentioned garden eggs, and she went hunting for information. She has decided to plant some. I remember okra and garden egg stews in Ghana, the first time I saw either vegetable. I mentioned to my friends that eating okra stew with your hands is a bit slimy. They couldn’t believe I used my hand as an eating utensil. Even now, if I eat Ghanaian stews, I use my hand. It just seems right.
When I was a kid, I loved Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. I’d crush Saltines with my hands and put the crumbs and pieces into the bowl of soup. The Saltines sat on the top of the soup and absorbed most of the liquid. That’s the way I liked it. The noodles and meat stayed on the bottom of the bowl and were easy to snag. I remember sucking in the noodles and having a few drops hit in the face. My other favorite soup was tomato. I never used Saltines in that soup, but I did dip in my grilled cheese sandwiches.
When I left for the Peace Corps, it was on a Sunday. I was flying from Logan to Philadelphia. Both my parents came with me to the airport and, in those days, they could walk me to the gate. We didn’t talk a whole lot. They were dealing with my leaving for 2+ years, and I was dealing with the same thing in a different way. I was both nervous and excited. I still remember our goodbyes. My mother held on a bit too long, but I was okay with that. My father gave me a quick hug and a kiss on my cheek. They told me to call from Philadelphia. I cried a bit, quietly, as I walked down the gateway to my plane.
When I spoke to my sister in Colorado this morning she said it was snowing and adding inches to the snow already on the ground. Happy spring!
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April 18, 2021 at 4:23 pm
Hi Kat,
I’m sure when eating in Ghana everyone uses their right hand because they use their left to clean their posterior. What do lefties do? Are they provided with a fork? 🙂
I still eat and love both Cambell’s Chicken Noodle and Tomato soups. According to my physician friend, it won’t help with flu symptoms as does the home made stuff, but it’s comforting when it goes down. Anyway, today we have anti-viral drugs which fight the actual disease.
Today is gorgeous with a few fluffy clouds in a blue sky with a temperature in the mid 60° range. My daughter and I went to the small Grapevine Botanical Garden. Most of the flowers haven’t bloomed yet, but it was still fun.
Regardless of our chronological age, to our mothers and fathers we are always their small children. I saw an interview by Dan Rather which was taped in 2017. He was interviewing Carl and Rob Reiner. Carl remarked that his 73 year old son as a “Good Kid”, and then corrected himself. Carl was in his mid to late 90s. Rob was his kid until Carl’s demise last year.
April 18, 2021 at 8:39 pm
Hi Bob,
That’s exactly why they use their right hands. In some countries they cut off the right hand of a thief so he can never eat with other people again. They would refuse to eat any food he touched.
I can’t remember the last time I bought canned soup. Actually, I can’t even remember the last time I ate soup. I did have clam chowder last week.
It was warm enough for me to go out on the deck to fill the bird feeders and to put up the new set of lights on the rail so the spawns have something to do. When I took down the eaten set, I noticed it had been eaten right at the plug. I’m almost sorry the spawn didn’t get shocked.
When my parents were alive, I used to say that about being their kid for the longest time.
April 18, 2021 at 10:01 pm
So that means I would have to suffer and eat with my right hand. 🙂
April 18, 2021 at 10:18 pm
You do have to suffer or have no right hand. When I was in Ghana, a friend from the US came to visit. He is left-handed. When we ate with some Ghanaian friends, I had to keep whacking him in the leg if he looked as if he was going to use his left hand.