And She Lives With Me Anyway

June 5th, 2007

Last Sunday, Kathy and I went out to lunch at a diner-style restaurant. She ordered soup which came with the requisite packet of Saltines. She didn't eat them. Before the waiter came to take her empty soup bowl away, I snaked out my hand to grab the crackers and tuck them into my handbag. "In case I get hungry at the movie," I explained.

And there it is: I've become my mother, gathering up uneaten food at the table to take home. My mother used to embarrass me by wrapping dinner rolls in napkins and stowing them in her purse, but look at me now! She was raised during the Depression but I grew up in the 60s and 70s. So my excuse is...what, exactly?

I'd like to think it stopped with the Saltines, but at the end of the meal, I looked over at Kathy's plate to see her very interesting garni, in pretty purple and green shades. "Um, uh...can I have that? I'd like to photograph it," I said, a bit embarrassed but not embarrassed enough. Kathy handed the leaves to me. I unfolded a napkin, gently set the leaves inside, then carried them carefully with us to the car.

To Kathy's credit, she did not roll her eyes or sigh as I used to do when my mom engaged in that behavior.

After two more errands, we were back at home, me setting up the camera equipment and taking pictures of the somewhat wilted leaves. Was it worth it? I think so:

Close-up of purple and green leaves

And next time I see Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, I'll have a snack on hand. Um, yay, me.

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On June 5th, 2007 Kelly Kilmer (not verified) says:

OMG, you do that too? My Mom and I have a thing for napkins. We'll go and get drinks and get a crapload of napkins for no reason other then "just in case".
I would've taken the saltines. You never know when you'll need to pull out crumbs from the bottom of your purse.
Oh, and the purple garnish picture is *totally* worth it. I thought about dying my hair that color yesterday when I saw a woman with that color hair-it was freakin' COOL.
Kelly

On June 5th, 2007 alix says:

"You never know when you'll need to pull out crumbs from the bottom of your purse."

ROTFLOL! So true!

I'm thinking of making a transparency out of the garnishment. I just love the colors. Hair like that would be awesome, but I've learned the hard way how difficult it is to keep the color as you intended it.

Here is what the garni looks like (different shot) run through the Posterize filter in Photoshop. Woo!

Purple garnishment leaf, with dark edges

On June 6th, 2007 Lynne Morrell (not verified) says:

I love the garnish leaves...beautiful color, texture and shape. Maybe you can put the garnish in between the saltines and make a sandwich...a tea sandwich! Just in case ya have a hunkerin for some veggies during pirates:)

On June 9th, 2007 redhedm says:

The way I figure it, you paid for the soup and the crackers are part of the "dish" so they are yours to take and eat when you want. :-)
Garnish is purty- so worth it.

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