As my local friends are aware, but some of you may not know, I am fortunate to live in a multicultural neighborhood. My house is in the middle of little Asia and I love it. I admire and enjoy my neighbors - I love the color and culture that I get to share in - and I love the small idiosyncrasies that are prevalent. I hear a knocking at the door early in the morning and, still in my pyjamas, I answer it - Hong Ngyen from next door (The Vietnamese Banh Mi Shop) is there with a bowl of fresh picked green grapes. These are grapes picked from my vine which has grown over to her property and she has tended for years. Trying to be socially correct...in a panic...I run to the freezer and grab a pork chop...the only gift that I have on hand to reciprocate. She looks at the pork chop and smiles....and the game begins. I know what has to follow so I get prepared - I run to the basement and grab a small jar of green grape jalapeno jelly that I had made the previous year and wait. Three hours later the expected knock comes at the door and I answer it. Hong has a small plate with a dozen pork springs rolls. and I hand her the grape jelly. No words are exchanged....we both look admiringly at the gifts then after a knowing smile to each other, she turns and leaves and I close the door. It is magic.
Posted on: Thu, 11 Sep 2014 14:02:51 +0000
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