A Late Thank You

Easter in North Sulawesi It’s uneventful. I’m not sure if that is good or odd; We have a full house in Minahasa Lagoon, and I’m so busy it was a complete surprise to me that today is Good Friday… I even missed the fact that it’s now spring!

Gosh, all mighty! Time is flying past me. Richard Q has had an inspiring week (he thinks it’s stressful), making significant changes in his life. I’m still working on my TCM book, but it is in the final stages; Possibly my best work yet. Even without any idea about Cooking or Traditional Chinese Medicine, it’s a valuable collection of healthy teas and light cooking that require no culinary background or medical knowledge. I simply collected a few tips that are randomly available by nature… (not if you live in a city -mainly on the 23rd floor.)

Last week at a market in Bali, I had a déjà vu that stranded me in my action; I stood in front of an old lacquered box, one of those flashy red bamboo boxes you can find in Asia. It was square-shaped, 40 cm x 40 cm, and merely 10cm high. The inside was shiny black lacquer, and the outside had pretty little white flowers, pulled together by a patient hand dotting each one on the red surface. It was not just the beauty of this old box that caught my attention; it awoke a long-forgotten memory in my brain. When I was nineteen years old, in the old town of St.Gallen in Switzerland, I visited a flower store during my last year in culinary school.

I can’t remember what attracted me to this place the first time. Soon, I became acquainted with the owner, who was not shy about his flirtatious attentions. It did not bother me the least; He had an affinity for drying little red roses, which he carefully assembled in old Chinese boxes. I asked him why not white ones. He said they are difficult to dry. I would be sitting there regularly and watching him, even greeting walk-in clients and, foremost, sharing with him about the learning agony of a young chef in a stressful kitchen experience. One day he gave me a present. A square box filled with 500 dried white roses. I cherished this present, although I stayed away from his shop, afraid in my spooking mind that I’d owe him now a favor. He died a few years later, one of the early fatalities of AIDS. 

As I stood there, I wondered where that little box was – but foremost, I finally fully appreciated that someone had given me such a fantastic present and never asked for anything in return. I had the same euphoric feeling I remembered from way back when. 

Yes, sometimes it takes a long time for us to register what others do from a kind heart. Within, I hope that all I do will one day reach the hearts of others. We all must be kind and share compassion, regardless if we are understood correctly or not. Far away from all the turmoil of Los Angeles, I have found a few duties rewarding. I’m still helping a family build their home and supporting my God-children. The oldest now goes to school. My curricular activities keep me sane and very happy; I can’t say that about work. Heck, I’ve gotten a lot done, and in the end – I sleep well when going to bed.

Politics is keeping me edgy. Does anyone ever consider that with the evidence presented to the Senate five years ago, Obama should have voted for it? Indeed, with the security of the people, he represents the fact alarm about a severe threat to National security. Sure now, many of us feel that the false and blown-out-of-proportion information is possibly no rectification to kill 4000 US soldiers in a costly and losing war. But way back when (when it was called an invasion), I, too, felt the need for action. I did not like Cheney’s force! I’m against war in general. That makes me politically wishy-washy the most… Sure is; Hillary can run the US machine more efficiently than Obama, and this manifests my support for her.

Hopefully, by July 08 the www.TCMchef.com site will be active and catching your interest. 

Happy Easter! Raphael