Food -- Sat., Sept. 29

Oktoberfest 2006 -- Germany with Susan's relatives.

We* take food for granted AND enjoy: the tastes, textures, spices, scents, temperature, presentation, sustenance, and social aspect. 

Texas-sized pork chop on my plate. Yikes!

We abuse food: over-eat, super-size, over-salt, over-sugar, over-fat, over-process, genetically modify, become addicted. 

[*We=People in industrialized nations.]

Human beings need food to survive, although some would argue this point as I have heard about monks in some foreign land who can go years without food. I've never really studied them, so am not totally speaking from a base of knowledge, only rumor.

Different cultures have different tastes and different etiquette regarding food. Some eat with their hands, some eat only with their right hand, some use Western utensils; some use chopsticks.

In parts of the world, people hunt and gather their food; others shop and cook; some plant and raise their own food on farms; some fish, and use crab and lobster traps, and others simply dine out. By choice or by tradition, people can be carnivores, omnivores, vegetarians, vegans, follow strict religious guidelines, avoid genetically modified foods, or simply eat whatever they want. So many choices.

The one thing people seem to have in common when it comes to food is: they like to share it! Potlucks, weddings, family reunions, parties, wakes, church gatherings, picnics, cruises, vacations, family meals, eating out, community events, fairs, holidays, just about any occasion we can think of, people like to get together and eat.

Susan's family at Cheesecake Factory in Portland, Oregon. (2002)

 There's something almost primeval in our attitudes toward food. We savor it and enjoy "breaking bread" with others. Having food to eat is essential to our well-being, I'd venture to say, physically and spiritually. Sharing food is a tradition with most people. 

2009 Puerto Vallarta -- River Cafe

Sometimes you see someone eating alone. If I'm in a restaurant by myself, I feel an unspoken social stigma. "What's wrong with her?" I try to bring a book or magazine to read if I'm by myself. It's probably just me being paranoid, but hey, I try not to let it bother me.

Sharing food and socializing is a long-standing event in the human race. It starts when we're at our mother's breast. Comfort, warmth, love, caring, sharing. Some cultures take it a bit further and more than one woman may raise and suckle a baby.

So what's got me doing a soliloquy on food? I miss regular eating, that's what. With jaws wired shut everything is reduced to liquid in some shape or form. I miss eating cereal and chewing food while "chewing the fat." I don't know how long this will last. These bands and wires make me feel a bit claustrophobic too. It's impossible to yawn and very hard to sneeze, cough, spit stuff out, and talk.

A few years ago, Nicole Kidman and Tom Cruise did a bizarre movie called "Eyes Wide Shut." I think a new documentary should be made called "Jaws Wired Shut" which shows what it's like to live for weeks without the usual use of your mouth.  It could be very interesting. Anyway, it's a good word play.

Enough rambling, I want lamb, applesauce, beets, asparagus, chocolate, chips, cereal. I'll find out Monday what I can expect for the next few weeks. Stay tuned.

Welcome to new readers Rick and Kathy of It's About Time.

Hungry Travel Bug out.