Love and Food and, of course, the Mango.

Even

After

All this time

The sun never says to the earth,"You owe Me."

Look

What happens

With a love like that:

It lights the

Whole

Sky.

Even...after all this time...I still love this poem by Hafiz.

For some reason I'm in a nesting mode today, with a strong desire to cook something divine and enjoy it with someone else. I'm hosting a party next weekend for sure, but tonight I'm going to put my creativity to good use, roast a chicken while I write and see who'll help me eat it tomorrow.

After yoga today, I went to the market down the street. Interestingly enough, it appears as though my obsession with mangos has been duly noted by the high school kid who attends to my check-out needs every week. (We've become hi-bye-how-are-you? friends.)

"There's the mango!," he said to me at the check-out as I was absently reaching into my bag to find my wallet.

"I'm sorry?", I said. Although I knew right away what he was talking about. I practically dated every mango in the mango section to select my perfect mango mate.

"The mango!! You always get one mango every time I see you here."

"I do?"

Of course I know I do. But I was feigning shock because I didn't want it to look like I really am obsessed with mangos this winter. I've been putting them in everything. Making mango-inspired milk shakes. Mango jerk chicken. I love the mango! But a mango every week or so isn't such a bad thing? I consider the mango my special dietary treat. 'Somes reach for the Ben & Jerry's, 'somes need a mango. Don't hate.

The check-out kid laughed when he realized that I was feigning embarrassment after I told him that I should give him my secret recipe for my yogurt mango smoothie protein drink that I assured him will make all of the ladies love him, if he's into that sort of thing. I then explained to him, and the unsuspecting woman in line behind me that the mango is god's most perfect food. And food is love. Love! Have I plugged the mango enough?

My well-rubbed, roasting chicken is starting to make the house smell like an island of tranquility. Food is love. And like love, one shouldn't worry so much about sharing it and trying something new. In fact, all of my best recipes, including my beloved mango smoothie, are made for sharing. And so am I. Mmmm-Mmmmmm! Do all women think this way, or is it an ethnic thing?