TRY SOMETHING DIFFERENT TODAY

It's always disconcerting that people are scared to try something new.
I notice this a lot when searching for snackipoos in Chinatown, especially if the timid little creatures are tourists from the rest of the country or Europe. Edibles that look absolutely scrumptious will scare them, because they've never had it before - "surely that sixty cent pastry is merely a devious scheme to separate us from our hard earned money", they seem to think, "and probably filled with pebbles or spagnum to boot".

Hah, I will not be fooled!
I will keep asking what it is till they give in!

Understandably, this technique never works. The middle-aged lady behind the counter is considerably cleverer than the average European or Kansan, and unlike people on holiday, her bloodsugar level is up, she's had enough sleep, she's full of caffeine, and infinitely devious.

Once the unwise visitor has bitten into the treacherous baked item, the store will magically disappear.
Poof!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whereupon the downcast victim of the clever subterfuge will find him or herself standing alone on a windswept heath, no humans or buildings in sight, with naught but a black evil crow in a dead tree cawing sarcastically at them.

The only way to keep this from happening is to NOT eat anything you don't recognize.
Ever.


IT'S MAGIC!

You're in a new place, without anyone who would recognize you for hundreds of miles - what do you care if there's a sarcastic crow laughing at you? Maybe it's a good crow. One who wishes you well, and instinctively feels for you, and expresses great sympathy. Who will come over and make comforting cooing sounds, 'there there, little human, there there.'
The worst that can happen is that he offers you some carrion to alleviate your loss.
Don't mind the sarcastic tone, that's just how crows sound.
He'll share his delicious stale pizza.
Go on, trust the crow.

I really wonder how the first human discovered the first meatloaf. There must have been a certificate attached to it listing all the ingredients by proportion, the method of manufacture, and the exact use-by date.
Same goes for everything else that's edible.

Crows probably did the same thing. Refused to touch the deceased meat or discarded Italian snack lying on the pavement untill it was fully vouched for, and explained in great detail. By a reputable agency.
That, my feathered friend, is wheat flour dough, yeast, canned tomato paste, white cheese, and anchovy. It was baked for fifteen minutes at four hundred and fifty degrees Fahrenheit, then sold to a drunken biped who accidentally dropped it on the street.
It has been there for only six hours.
It's still good!


There were times when I would helpfully translate, and try to explain that lotus-seed paste is actually very yummy, and charsiu is infinitely better than wienerschnitzel or mediocre bratwurst.
It was to no avail. The distrust ran too deep.

The only out-of-towners who appreciated the assistance were a bunch of Israelis two years ago, who happily bought all the treif in sight.
I explained to them that 'pine-apple bun' has NO pineapple whatsoever. It is called that way because of the appearance of the baked surface, all crackly.
And really, it is best when filled with charsiu.

"Oh yeah? They can DO that here?"

"Fabulous!"


One should always be willing to try something new. What if refusing to do so means losing out on the most exciting day of your life? What if always hiding prevents you from experiencing fascinating things?  Entrancing tastes, textures, sensations.
Opening up is better than poking with a stick.

I often meet different people, and have brand new conversations.
There are always points of contact we can explore.
When I can, I try to do stuff differently.

What does it taste like? How does it feel?

Unknown foods and new acquaintances are often similar. Hesitancy closes the door to opportunity.
Usually, what one discovers by reaching out, is something remarkable about oneself.
The world is a mirror - and a reflection you may have never seen before.
Rythms, feelings, and adventures are there for the asking.

A cat may not know this nice shaft of sunlight intimately yet, but automatically recognizes that it is good to sleep here.
And perhaps a lovely beastie might interrupt her dreams......
Warm, juicy mouse, wriggly and sweet.
Wonderful.



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