I haven’t been the least bit shy about asking people, now that the  Water Dragon New Year has begun, about their Chinese astrology signs.  My dental hygienist was close to tears when she whispered that she was a rooster.  “I don’t feel like a rooster — they’re so noisy.”  As she quietly set up her tools for her work,  I could sense her deep distress, and with a touch of compassion that’s believed to come with being a  Water Dragon,  I attempted to calm the stage before the dental scaling  was set to begin.  I humbly held back my proud declaration of...

I still can’t believe she was right. And I didn’t give in easily or with very much grace because after all this time I was sure I knew the best way to say it. “It’s an SAT word that I memorized — I know exactly how it’s pronounced.”  Since I don’t have a video attachment on my land line, I can’t confirm whether she was shaking her head at my unwillingness to change my mind,  alphabetizing tax receipts, or  wondering if I actually was right.  I said it again, my way,  like I was saying my name — waited for a wiggle,  and she...

My husband starts peeling garlic cloves before the table’s even set.  He tastes my soup with a wary tongue, and then ambushes the flavor with pepper.  He was there when fire was first invented.  And like father/like son, having witnessed the taste battles close at hand, our progeny heads off to the trail where only spice hunters go. For a long time, I tolerated the macho spicing ceremonies —  with a good share of disdain.  And while they grabbed for their SpiceMan mustard, I inched my way to the the milder blend, proud that my knowing taste buds managed well on their own.  I was once...

“Oh, you’ll love this tea,” my friend shouted from the kitchen, while I waited in her living room.  I’d offered to help, but, no, she said it was a very special brew and she didn’t want any distractions.  “What kind is it?” I called back, hoping for a hint of what was to come.  “You’ll tell me,” she shot back in a way that let me know that my tea tasting talents ranked high on her list.  “I had the tastiest Darjeeling, before I left for work.  Wouldn’t surprise me if the leaves had been hand-dried.”  Her seclusion...