This one never fails. It is an instant teleportation to another time and place. My mom picked this recipe up from a Chinese neighbor woman. I used to spend a lot of time at the woman’s place because her daughter was my friend at the time. Having lunch at their place was wonderful because you never knew what was on the menu for that day. It was usually something I had never heard of but I was more than willing to be a guinea pig. One time we had pig’s ears! Strange? Yes, it was but I liked it.
Coming back to congee. It is a savoury rice porridge made by boiling rice in a large amount of water until the rice is very soft, a sort of gruel. Mom used to cook this when I had a cold or wasn’t feeling well. She said it was a miracle cure! I don’t know about that but after a bowl of chicken congee, I did feel much better. Voodoo? Well, not quite. The soft silky mixture is easy on the tummy and hydrates the body. There are many different versions but I like the chicken or the fish congee. It is delicious but more than that, it takes me back to a place when life was simpler and filled with mystery.
Living in Asia was a wonderful experience. I learned many things both good and bad. The food was fantastic and though strange at times, I learned that everything is worth a try. You can always say no later. I’ve kept to that throughout my life but I hit the brakes on live monkey brains! That is a whole different story altogether for another time and place.
Daily writing prompt
Which food, when you eat it, instantly transports you to childhood?
A man takes the day off work and decides to go out golfing. He is on the second hole when he notices a frog sitting next to the green. He thinks nothing of it and is about to shoot when he hears, “Ribbit 9 iron.” The man looks around and doesn’t see anyone. Again, he hears, “Ribbit 9 iron.” He looks at the frog and decided to prove the frog wrong, puts the club away, and grabs a nine iron. BOOM! He hits it 10 inches from the cup. He is shocked. He says to the frog, “Wow that’s amazing.” You must be a lucky frog, eh?” The frog replies, “Ribbit lucky frog.”
The man decides to take the frog with him to the next hole. “What do you think frog,” the man asks. “Ribbit three wood.” The guy takes out the three wood and BOOM! Hole in one. The man is befuddled and doesn’t know what to say. By the end of the day, the man shot the best game of his life and asks the frog, “OK, where to next?” The frog replies, “Ribbit Las Vegas.” They go to Las Vegas and the guy says, “OK frog, now what?” The frog says, “Ribbit Roulette.” Upon approaching the roulette table, the man asks, “What do you think I should bet?” The frog replies, “Ribbit $3000, black 6.” Now, this is a million to one shot to win, but after the golf game, the man figures what the heck. BOOM! Tons of cash come sliding back across the table. The man takes his winnings and buys the best room in the hotel. He sets the frog down and says, “Frog, I don’t know how to repay you. You’ve won me all this money and I am forever grateful.” The frog replies, “Ribbit kiss me.” The guy figures why not. After all the frog did for him, he deserves it. With a kiss, the frog turns into a gorgeous 15-year-old girl.”
“And that, your honor, is how the girl ended up in my room.”
What do you think? “Ribbit, Ribbit, did he get away with it?”
The couple have not been getting along for years, so the husband thinks, “I’ll buy my wife a cemetery plot for her birthday.”
Well, you can imagine her disappointment. The next year, her birthday rolls around again and he doesn’t give her anything. She says, “Why didn’t you get me a birthday present?”
He says, “You didn’t use what I got you last year!”
It was this memorable line from his, “I Have A Dream,” speech that caught my attention and pushed me towards a life of going up against injustice of any kind.
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”
It was delivered during the March on Washington in 1963 but that speech which called for an end to segregation and discrimination will reach a young girl many years later and it would stop me in my treks as I listened to that voice, a forceful and rhythmic one which came droning out of an open window. I didn’t know what it meant at the time but I knew that it was important whatever it was.
I was far removed from a world of injustice. My world revolved around the fantasy world I had created in my safe childhood space but I would learn as I delved into books that the world was a cruel place and that even children were not “free” from the violence and injustices that segregation and discrimination brought about.
Martin Luther King was a civil rights activist but more than that he was a man of courage. It took courage to stand up against injustice and it still is. People have come a long ways from “Whites Only” places BUT there is still much to be done as we are seeing with the current administration.
“Let freedom ring,” was repeated throughout the speech and the last lines, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” concluded the speech. However, no matter how hopeful it was, discrimination as we all know is not a thing of the past. It is alive and doing well.
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” MLK
He wasn’t a tall man but he came out as a giant using just his voice as a powerful tool and his stance of non-violence to get his message across. A one of a kind as far as historical figures go and therefore, my favorite historical figure.
Perhaps I spoke too soon yesterday. Chachi, the cat, was doing fine earlier in the day but he took a turn for the worse later. When evening rolled around, he was looking lethargic again even though he had slept most of the day away and his eyes didn’t have the brightness they usually have.
There was no constant meowing and he was eating and drinking like he usually does. However, something seemed off and when he took to hiding under the bed, alarm bells started going off. Still, I held my calm and tried not to panic. It was hard not to do. I tried talking to him but he was quiet. Later in the evening, he walked out and after eating some food, he jumped on the bed. Holding him close, I whispered softly that all will be well. He purred and fell asleep. I made a mental note to clean under the bed. The dust bunnies have gathered and they’ve made that space their party central!
We had a goodnight’s sleep and I slept longer than usual. Wakeup time, according to Little Macho is 5:30 a.m., but this morning, I only woke up at 7 a.m., not for lack of trying from Chachi’s end!
However, I noticed that he was up and about and going about his business. When he heard the slight movement from the human, he came running and looking up, he went, “GET UP ALREADY!” He was back and his eyes looked bright and his walk was full of energy. We headed downstairs with the little macho leading the way. While making breakfast, I noticed he was running up and down the stairs like a mad cat!
ME: “You feeling better Chachi?”
He stops and winks, one slow and two fast winks and takes off again, this time to the cellar. It was quiet for a while so I headed downstairs and noticed that the runner was all bunched up. He does that all the time. Then I saw him sitting in the corner getting ready to pounce on something. It was a tiny little spider that he had cornered and had in his sight. It stood no chance against the seasoned hunter. I quickly picked it up with a tissue and flushed it down the toilet!
ME: “Stop eating creepy crawlies! You’ve probably messed up your stomach eating one of these things.”
Summer and winter brings in the occasional fly, spiders and such so nothing new there.
HIM: “You’re a party pooper mommy!” Just because you have no FUN doesn’t mean I can’t have mine!”
He’s right, mom is a stick in the mud and “FUN” is not part of her lifestyle right now but I wasn’t going to let this little snort tell me that. So I shooed him up the stairs and said, “I’m going to clean under the bed after breakfast!”
He stopped, turned around and went, “NO! NO! NO!”
ME: “Why not?”
HIM: “I’ve got STUFF!”
ME: “What stuff?”
HIM: “Boy stuff!”
ME: “What do you mean boy stuff? May I remind you that you’re not a ……”
I stopped mid-sentence knowing full well that he’s right. He’s a little boy in my mind and whatever “boy stuff” he’s talking about, I really didn’t want to know!
So I ran a wet mop under the bed to clear the dust bunnies who put up a fight as well as the little macho stood watching me. Whatever else was there I left as is. Some secrets are better left alone.
The royal pain in the you know what is running around caught up in his world of make-believe and I’m happy that he’s happy. He’s doing much better and I hope it stays that way. Fingers crossed!
He was much older but I didn’t care. This guy blew in like a hurricane and had me in a “royal crush” from the get go. I loved everything about him especially that quirky grin that had millions of women around the world in a tailspin!
I had met three Aussies a few days earlier. Somehow they had managed to get my address from my younger sister. I came home one evening to find them in the living room cozying up to dad. I was not impressed. Suddenly I heard this music that caught my attention coming from the TV. I saw him and I couldn’t take my eyes off him. I sat glued to the TV until one of the guys said, “Hey Tia, look over here.” I turned and there they were with their chests exposed!
Years later, much much later, I would have a talk with my crush. He was doing the Blue Blood Series at the time. Nothing much had changed, he was older but that smile was front and center! I told him about that story with the young Aussies. He broke out in laughter. I then told him that they had nice chests but they were smooth as silk. Unlike my mighty crush! He laughed again. All I can say is that he’s a super nice guy and the crush has dissipated but he holds a special place in my heart. Nice guys usually do.
Morgan Harper Nichols was born in Hamilton, New Zealand. She is an American Christian musician, songwriter and poet. Her quotes, however, are poignant and it is about finding beauty in the ordinary, embracing imperfection and growth tinged with resilience and hope. Here is a sampling of her brilliant work. Her words speak to the heart and has the ability to light up your day. Enjoy.
“and perhaps what made her beautiful was not her appearance or what she achieved, but in her love and in her courage, and her audacity to believe: no matter the darkness around her, light ran wild within her, and that was the way she came alive, and it showed up in everything.”
“And if everything does not fall into place at the same time and pace, that does not mean that the years you’ve waited have somehow been a waste. Keep planting, sowing, living, and knowing that beautiful things take time, and that’s okay.”
“Take photographs of everything. You never know how long these moments will be here. Things are going to change.”
“Even in the moments when you feel directionless, you can still find the courage to take another step.”
“Words matter so speak kind words to yourself.”
“Perhaps, even here, I am growing. When the days are long, and I do not feel as strong, and when the hours go by slower than they ever have before, and the sun is shining, and I am lost indoor, perhaps even here, I am growing.”
“Never let anyone who cannot bear your pain make you feel you are unbearable.”
“Tell the story of the mountains you’ve climbed. Your words could become a part of someone else’s survival guide.”
AND
“When you start to feel like things should have been better this year, remember the mountain and valleys that got you here.”
He is back to his normal self and this morning started really early with him tapping my head to get me out of bed! Then followed, “MOMMY!!” It was a signal that all was well again and he was raring to go. The little motorized mouse wasn’t moving anymore but that’s par for the course. Little Einstein plays rough and he has this passive-aggressive thing going. The mouse looks fine but psychologically, I can’t vouch for it!
The little guy in the fur coat hasn’t been feeling well for a few days. It could be the heatwave or the thunderstorms that followed but Little Einstein looks like he has had it up to here, if you know what I mean.
He’s been moping around and energetic he is not. His whole demeanor speaks of someone who has had a tough few days. Mom had to step in and with the help of Google, I’ve tried soups to soothe an upset stomach, thick green paste especially for gastrointestinal problems and lots of water but all to no avail. They only helped for a day or two.
So I brought home a little friend. I thought that would cheer him up. A motorized little mouse, cute as a button, that had his tail wagging for a while and then he slapped it down with one paw and that was the end of that. This morning I woke up to find his toy basket overturned and all his stuffed toys on the floor along with the stuffing!
ME: “Did you have a party last night Chachi?!! It must have been a wild one.”
A snort and a Garfield stare later, he goes, “I have nothing to say!”
I tried a different ploy. I got some stomach oil from the pet store. A few drops in his food and it should do the trick of getting him on the mend again. He’s not called Little Einstein for nothing! The food is still sitting there untouched and each time he goes past it, he makes “burying” motions with his paws and looks up at me!
If things don’t get better, a vet’s visit will be next. I’m not looking forward to that so I’ll try lots of kisses, hugs, attention and cuddles to see if I can cheer the little fella up. The white flag is up and tonight he gets his favorite tuna with nothing mixed in! The things I do for the four-legged baby short of standing on my head and doing circus tricks!
I’ve traveled to different parts of the world but if I choose to do it again, the place at the top of the list would be Sri Lanka. The next one on the list would be the Bahamas. They are still on my bucket list, not that I’m going to get myself out of being a recluse anytime soon and head to faraway places!
Coming back to Sri Lanka, also known as the Emerald Isle is a dream place I would like to see in person. The island’s lush, green landscapes combined with the sapphire blue sparkle of the Indian Ocean would be worth visiting. If I do get a chance, I would like to live with a local family and look at life from their viewpoint. I’ve heard the food is spicy but delicious and the seafood, especially the crabs might be something I would like to try. The Ministry of Crab is a restaurant I would like to spend some time in and maybe stay there for awhile! The wellness retreats have plenty to offer and a week at one of these places would get me back to where I want to be, relaxed, stress-free and full of energy again!
The people seem very friendly and the island life is appealing since I spent most of my childhood on an island and I do miss it. Kicking back and just taking it all in would be something that might just get me out of being a recluse! Oh, and going barefoot is very inviting too!
The little guy in the fur coat hasn’t been feeling well for a few days. It could be the heatwave or the thunderstorms that followed but Little Einstein looks like he has had it up to here, if you know what I mean.
He’s been moping around and energetic he is not. His whole demeanor speaks of someone who has had a tough few days. Mom had to step in and with the help of Google, I’ve tried soups to soothe an upset stomach, thick green paste especially for gastrointestinal problems and lots of water but all to no avail. They only helped for a day or two.
So I brought home a little friend. I thought that would cheer him up. A motorized little mouse, cute as a button, that had his tail wagging for a while and then he slapped it down with one paw and that was the end of that. This morning I woke up to find his toy basket overturned and all his stuffed toys on the floor along with the stuffing!
ME: “Did you have a party last night Chachi?!! It must have been a wild one.”
A snort and a Garfield stare later, he goes, “I have nothing to say!”
I tried a different ploy. I got some stomach oil from the pet store. A few drops in his food and it should do the trick of getting him on the mend again. He’s not called Little Einstein for nothing! The food is still sitting there untouched and each time he goes past it, he makes “burying” motions with his paws and looks up at me!
If things don’t get better, a vet’s visit will be next. I’m not looking forward to that so I’ll try lots of kisses, hugs, attention and cuddles to see if I can cheer the little fella up. The white flag is up and tonight he gets his favorite tuna with nothing mixed in! The things I do for the four-legged baby short of standing on my head and doing circus tricks!
There is an unstoppable force within you and it is called the power within. It can do the impossible if you let it. You, my friend, are more than the circumstances that surround you and YOU are capable and more than enough to overcome those circumstances.
“You have the power within yourself to make anything possible, you must diminish the doubt and ignite the self belief.” Leon Brown
“The strongest force in the universe isn’t found in the stars, it’s within you! Ignite your passion, fuel it with belief, and watch as your courage sets the world ablaze.” Unknown
“Strength does not come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you once thought you couldn’t.” Rikki Rogers
“It’s time you realized that you have something in you more powerful and miraculous than the things that affect you.” Marcus Aurelius
“So wear your strongest posture and see your hardest times as more than just the times you fell, but a range of mountains you learned to climb.” Morgan Harper Nichols.
Just a note to the person facing the new beginning today. YOU are fully capable of handling anything and everything. Believe in yourself, hold your head up high and you have won half the battle, the rest will fall into place. Good luck on your journey today, I am rooting for you!
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