I am now back to writing after my trip to South Dakota. And this isn't what I was planning to write.This is a letter to one of my favorite authors and an invitation to spice up your life!
Dear Kate,
Now that I’m back and somewhat
recovered (bah-ha) from my trip to visit family in South Dakota…here is a
cross-country package from Portland, Oregon to Portland, Maine! Ta-Da…the
seasoning packets with recipes from Cuisine Mentor I mentioned to you on
Facebook. I decided we should drive across the bridge to Sellwood and find some
nice salt and pepper for you at Savory Spice Shop as well. I would have gotten
some of the olive oils, vinegars and/or hot sauces, but I didn’t want to mess
with packing and shipping anything liquid.
Let me know how this stuff works for
you, if you will, as I’m planning to do much of my holiday shopping this year
through these two companies, both based here in the Portland area. I never
really need an excuse to go to Sellwood anyway. It’s a cool area of town, and
when I decide to go hiking at Tryon Park (which we didn’t today) that is right
on the way. Sellwood is filled with older, every-one-looks-different (rather
than the whole neighborhood being erected a few years ago by the same developer)
houses, antique shops, one store dedicated to soaps, another to creative
collage, a couple cool art galleries, people leave water bowls out for dogs on
the sidewalk…I’m sure you get the idea. J
Today George (my fiancé) and I drove
over there after an amazing service at the COEXIST Celebration and had lunch at
the Grand Central Bakery, one of my favorite places in the Universe to get a
mocha – with REAL whipped cream – in a cup the size of a soup bowl, on a saucer.
You have to ask for the whipped cream light if you don’t want it on your face
when you take a sip, and if you stir it in with a spoon it flows all over the
sides and onto the saucer. Which is perhaps why they use them. You could use a
straw. Anyhoo, I digress.
I mentioned briefly on FB that I
have a personal story in regards to Cuisine Mentor. It all started at the
Portland Saturday Market. Well, no, it actually all started at Lake Grove
Chiropractic Clinic in May of 2010 when my back – especially the left trapezius
– was bugging me so badly I absolutely had to book a massage or I may have
climbed a wall. Well, no, rather I would not have been able to climb anything because
of the physical discomfort I was experiencing. And I remembered this
chiropractic clinic across the street from my apartment offered massage
therapy, naturopathic medicine, acupuncture, etc., I called them, and was told a
therapist named George had an appointment available that evening right after my
work time ended.
I booked that appointment and kept
going back every time I needed a massage because George helped me – his touch,
skill and energy were therapeutic. Before your mind even goes there (it already
has, right?) I will tell you George had never dated a client and had a personal
philosophy that he never would. And I never thought of him in a romantic or
sexual manner either, anymore than I would my dentist or my gynecologist. I was
usually the last client of the day because I would go after work and the gym…so
everyone would be gone in the clinic but us, and George would close up after I
left. We got to talking, with him behind the reception desk and me on the other
side. Sometimes for up to a half hour or more at a time. I developed a sort of
friendship with this really nice and cute guy who helped me feel better,
physically. We both liked music and became friends on FB because of a music
link I wanted to get from him.
And then one day around the time of
the US open tennis tournament, during or after a massage, it came up that we
both had played tennis in the past and would like to again – but just for fun
and exercise, without keeping score or serving or being competitive. George
found his tennis racquet, I replaced mine that had been stolen from my car
several years prior, and got a pair of shoes and a can of balls.
There is much more to this story
surrounding a minor uterine surgery I had already scheduled, that George took
me to the hospital for at 4:00 in the morning – not insisting, rather making it
very clear he was available and wanted to – when I was planning to take a cab.
But the deal is we went to the Saturday Market after batting the tennis ball
around twice. That’s when I figured out he was asking me on a date, and we
weren’t just tennis buddies after all.
We found the Cuisine Mentor booth
and I tasted several of the wonderful samples. I bought four seasoning packets for
twenty bucks and rifled through them as we walked, wondering which one I would
make first. I decided on the Moroccan chicken, and said so outloud. George
asked, “Is that when you are inviting me over for dinner?” I said yes and how
about next Friday and he said sure.
I admit I was a little skeptical. Green
olives and dates along with everything else? I chopped and diced and prepared the
night before, so I could just make myself pretty after work on Friday and stick
it in the oven before George came over. The Moroccan chicken was sublime, and
the rice and salad as well. We became boyfriend/girlfriend that night – 10 days
after our first walk to the tennis court. We’re engaged now, since 10/13/13.
When people ask if we’ve set a date for marriage, the response is “One of these
days.” I like that. We like that.
Much like these wonderful
seasonings.
Ah, ah, ah….the spice of life!!
Enjoy, Kate.
Authentically Yours,
Laura
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