Tonight, we had dinner at a little restaurant in Richmond, Indiana, called Thai Thara. It is a good place for a variety of Thai treats. I am a sucker for Pad Thai, and I like things spicy. Hotter than hot, if I can get it.
They have a “heat” rating from 1 being mild, to 5, being hot. I always get the 5. I should order the 8 or 9. Or a 12.
Anyway, it was Mary and Levi and I . Mary ordered the Fried Tofu as an appetizer for the table.
Here is the thing about Polly. I am NOT a picky eater. And I like to try new things. But there are a few items that I have tried and tried and tried to like. But no matter how or where they are prepared, I am not so keen on them. Tofu is one of those items. Calamari is the other one that quickly comes to mind.
Nonetheless, I passed on the opening act tonight. Levi, the gamer, gave it the old college try. After knocking back a couple, he said… “Tofu is one of those things that I will eat if I have to.”
Brilliant. My sentiments exactly. I will eat it if I HAVE to. But in most cases, I am not in a “have-to” predicament. Those rotten dire straights.
At which point, Levi than said… “Actually, it is one of those foods that I could eat if I were starving.” Again. Spot on.
I am like that with a lot of foods. If it doesn’t taste good, I won’t bother with it.
I’ll try it. And try it again. But if it still doesn’t square up… with10,000 tastebuds in my mouth… I won’t continue to partake in the distaste.
Again, my personal distaste. Their are loads and loads of people who find mashed bean curd and fried squid quite delectable. Have at it, and be glad. I do nothing to dissuade them.
But in the wider spectrum of things… this is life. At least it is with me. I can give a person or a situation a fair amount of “tries.” But sometimes, they just don’t gel with me. Like ice fishing or snow skiing. I don’t like being cold. These things aren’t for me.
Of people and politics. Well, sometimes we try and try to give them a fair shake. A good chance. Sometimes, even against our better judgement, we continue to show our support, or good will.
But. We don’t keep eating the tofu if we don’t like how it tastes. No matter how it is fried, baked, sauced, or served. Again, if that is what Tom, Dick, or Harry, choose… so be it.
We know what we like, and we know what is good… for us. We do.
Sometimes our hearts and our heads don’t play well together. We “think” one thing, but we “feel” another. But when it comes right down to it… in our deepest of deep, we know what is what.
It just might take a few tries to figure it out. So. Pass the salt, please.
— Tallulah Bankhead
— Mark Twain