Some thoughts on pho 

Over the past several days, I’ve had pho at least twice. Now, there aren’t as many pho places around here, yet, as there are teriyaki. But they’re making inroads. I can name 5 restaurants within a very short distance, and with great ease. Teriyaki, which should be the official foods of Seattle. It was a running joke, for awhile, that there was a stip mall, somewhere in Seattle, that didn’t have a teriyaki shop. Somewhere… So, as a comparison, I can think of 13 teriyaki shops in the same geographic area. 
For me, these foods, Vietnamese soup and Japanese chicken, were my comfort foods. When I’m sick, nothing nagging me feel better than pho ga, or chicken soup. With a fan of Siracha, and a dollop of hoison. Perfect! And if I’m stressed, or feeling sad, mad or bad, teriyaki picks up my mood. 

Now, there are variations. For teriyaki, I like it crisp, charred, solidly grilled. Others I know, prefer it cooked more gently. With pho, there’s pressed chicken vs shredded, with my preference being shredded. 

A few of the foods that make the Puget Sound basin a unique place culturally. So, Bon Appetite!

Ah, Life!

Woke this morning listening to birds punctuate the silence. Delightful and heart-warming, clearly reminding me how good my life is. Sometimes it’s easy to fill up on life’s negativity. Then it spills over and crafts a life of misery, despair, anger and fear. Taking time to focus on beauty, on love, absorb it, pull it into one’s marrow, creates a more joyful existence. A deliberate act with great value.