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Sweet rice for sweethearts: A Talk To Muckefuck Story™
I'd been thinking about a trip to Massouleh this week even before the eleventh hour invitation yesterday. When weren't able to take it up, I decided that we go today no matter what. Of course, I forgot one thing: Ugly Betty! So I told ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
monshu to sit tight while I dashed over and brought back takeout.
There was one "customer" in the restaurant. I use the scare quotes because Azim, the owner, was sitting at his table when I came to the door and only jumped up when he spotted me. I've seen the portly old man there before and suspect he's an old friend. When I asked Azim about the weekly special, he went into a loving description of the fruit-and-nut-rich polow (پلو) he'll be serving for Valentine's Day. It sounded something like the shirin polow (شیرین پلو) I'd had before at Reza's. "But shirin polow is all mixed together," he told me. "With this, we serve the rice with chicken and then decorate it."
"Come back Saturday," said the man at the table. "And bring your wives!"
"How many do you think I have?"
"However many, bring them all at once!"
"I don't think that's a good idea. You have to keep them separate. Each to their own house. Don't let them meet, that only causes trouble."
I ordered fessenjan, gheimeh bademjan, and maust-o-khiar. Then I turned to your man and asked, "So how many wives do you have?"
"Eight!"
"Eight? I thought four was the limit!"
"I'm Mormon! Unlimited marriage!"
"Four is the legal limit," Azim reminded me. "You can have as many as you can support."
He brought me a cup of tea and insisted I sit down with his friend. I introduced myself and shook hands with "Bruce". Out of nowhere, he asked me, "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" "Ein bisschen," I said modestly, "Und Sie?" Turns out he went to Göttingen to study. He married a woman from there ("So she's Number 8?" "I had to get rid of the others or" *throat-cutting gesture*") and his son speaks five languages--English, German, Persian, French, and Spanish. Lucky bastard!
Bruce filled me in on his educational background, from studying engineering in Germany to sneaking into the Northwestern library and watching the Fall of Saigon at the neighbouring cafeteria. He told me about a good friend of his named "Siavash", "a good old Persian name."
"Like 'Bruce'," I said, grinning.
He made a gesture of resignation. "Behruz, but it gets Americanised."
By now, my food was ready. "I included a new appetiser," said Azim. "When you come back, tell me what you think." I wished them both "!خدا حافظ" Bruce/Behruz replied "Auf Wiedersehn! Schlaf gut!" Somehow, I think we may run into each other again.
monshu to sit tight while I dashed over and brought back takeout.There was one "customer" in the restaurant. I use the scare quotes because Azim, the owner, was sitting at his table when I came to the door and only jumped up when he spotted me. I've seen the portly old man there before and suspect he's an old friend. When I asked Azim about the weekly special, he went into a loving description of the fruit-and-nut-rich polow (پلو) he'll be serving for Valentine's Day. It sounded something like the shirin polow (شیرین پلو) I'd had before at Reza's. "But shirin polow is all mixed together," he told me. "With this, we serve the rice with chicken and then decorate it."
"Come back Saturday," said the man at the table. "And bring your wives!"
"How many do you think I have?"
"However many, bring them all at once!"
"I don't think that's a good idea. You have to keep them separate. Each to their own house. Don't let them meet, that only causes trouble."
I ordered fessenjan, gheimeh bademjan, and maust-o-khiar. Then I turned to your man and asked, "So how many wives do you have?"
"Eight!"
"Eight? I thought four was the limit!"
"I'm Mormon! Unlimited marriage!"
"Four is the legal limit," Azim reminded me. "You can have as many as you can support."
He brought me a cup of tea and insisted I sit down with his friend. I introduced myself and shook hands with "Bruce". Out of nowhere, he asked me, "Sprechen Sie Deutsch?" "Ein bisschen," I said modestly, "Und Sie?" Turns out he went to Göttingen to study. He married a woman from there ("So she's Number 8?" "I had to get rid of the others or" *throat-cutting gesture*") and his son speaks five languages--English, German, Persian, French, and Spanish. Lucky bastard!
Bruce filled me in on his educational background, from studying engineering in Germany to sneaking into the Northwestern library and watching the Fall of Saigon at the neighbouring cafeteria. He told me about a good friend of his named "Siavash", "a good old Persian name."
"Like 'Bruce'," I said, grinning.
He made a gesture of resignation. "Behruz, but it gets Americanised."
By now, my food was ready. "I included a new appetiser," said Azim. "When you come back, tell me what you think." I wished them both "!خدا حافظ" Bruce/Behruz replied "Auf Wiedersehn! Schlaf gut!" Somehow, I think we may run into each other again.
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There's also a series on one of the PBS channels (I get them confused) called International Mystery which randomly broadcasts Maigret mysteries (in French, with hilarious subtitles) and the Montalbano mysteries (in Italian, with equally odd subtitles) starring the yummy Luca Zingarelli as the Sicilian detective.
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I understood the message... that's deep.
One dude is a Mormon, and the other is Arabian.
--- I'm going to re-read this for at least for the 5th time... just so that I'm on the same page, because this theme keeps popping up in which at the end of the day.... everybody has a place at the buffet table.
Thursday Night - I went to a Spanish Language, Mormon Church Service for a second part of a sermon that was done... which raised eyebrows, and had to do with what is thought of when "Right Relationships" is in order.
Even though... I bought my Male Significant Other with me, and it didn't occur one moment how this would LOOK TO OTHERS in the congregation. The truth is pretty simple - how well do you respect, and honor individuals in one's life ???
Doesn't really matter if it upsets "Homeland Security"...
One comment made me think - oh wait, will the U.S. end up investigating those who follow a particular faith and make some kind of legal action to say, "so-so' is only good as a tax shelter... but you can't call that person family."
--- In the end, I realize that if you have a bunch of hungry souls who want to go eat and enjoy the day... what's stopping that ?!!
So yeah, in the end - is my Patriotism in Question, because I believe in the message that everyone does have a place at the buffet table... no exceptions.
Obama is right... know those who are very different and learn something.
T.G.
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