I Am In It

Every Friday I get to go to my womens’ writing group, which I love. I get to write whatever I want with no one critiquing me. Just for the sheer joy of writing. Nothing more, nothing less. Here is a poem to encourage you to stay in your journey, be present for it, experience it…the joys and sorrows, the ups and downs, the twists and turns…

“I Am In It”
by Stacy Jagger

All of my experiences
One by one
All locked up together
Meaningful and few
Precious, like stones
Diamonds among them
Taking each one
To make something beautiful
Time is not lost
Lost is not time
I am on time
Not late, nor early
I am neither young, nor old
Depending your stature
Compared to Mathusala
I am a mere child
Wisdom I have sought you
Though too stupid to know if I have any
Smart enough to know
The only problems I have
Lie between my ears
Seeds thrown
This way and that
Water them and watch them grow
For there is no easier or softer way
The road is slow and easy
Bends from nowhere
Just to see them
And for no other reason
For the journey is the reward
And I am in it

Sushi Magic

Today I went to the International Market to get a present for my honey. I bought him all the stuff to make sushi at home, as we love California rolls and pay dearly for them at Wild Oats. We decided hey. How hard can it be? So I went to the International Market and left my friend Angie in the car with the baby while I quickly ran in to get what I needed.Well they don’t tell you that no one at the International Market speaks English. I was walking up to all the Chinese folk saying, “Do you speak English?” By the way, that place smells majorly of fish, and what in the world do you do with duck feet? I mean really people that scares me.Anyways, so I would ask, “Do you speak English?” and they would say, “Mmm, no English.” Again to another, “Do you speak English?” and again, “Mmm, little English.” And so I would tell them, in all my southernness, although I was trying to put a little Asian twist to it, “Okay, so I am wanting to make sushi at home and I need one of those rollyup thingies to roll it up with.” And let’s just say they couldn’t understand a word I was saying, either that, or they were pretending…not sure which.
So FINALLY! I found this couple who looked kind of, sort of University-ish, and I said, “Excuse me, but do you speak English?” And they said yes, and so I told them how I was wanting to make sushi at home and I was looking for one of those bamboo looking rolly-up thingies, and they started DYING LAUGHING! I mean pointing at me and laughing and their eyes completely disappeared they were laughing so hard. Saying, “You make no sushi at home, much effort, you rice fall apart, you makey no sushi.” And I was really offended. I’m like, “Yes I am, I am going to make sushi at home.” I told their seven year or so old son, “Your mom and dad are laughing at me!” And he said, “Yes! Hahaha! You makey no sushi.” And I said, “Yes I am. Well let’s just say it will be an experiment. Now where are the rolly-up thingies, and the chopsticks, and the rice cookers and the seaweed?
Thankfully, they sent me in the right direction. Because I didn’t have my glasses on, and that made it all worse. So I got all I needed and went back in line and the same family started laughing at me again. BUT! I got what I needed out of him b/c he told me, “You go to Sushi Magic on internet.” I said, “Sushi Magic?” He says, “Sushi Magic. You must put vinegar in the rice to make sticky rice, or you no make sushi.”
I thanked Mr. Chinese Laugh-At-Me and went on my merry way, but I did recognize that even the Chinese cashier was snickering. I’m like “What’s the big deal people? Sushi can’t be that hard!”
So I’ll keep you updated on the Sushi Adventure. In the meantime, if you are secretly wishing YOU could make sushi at home, visit www.sushimagic.com
Other than that, Happy New Year…all the way to China and back…