Fascination and Figs

I had the pleasure of meeting two new infants by two friends in San Francisco this week.  Giving life is truly a miracle that continues to be awe inspiring.  Observing the little ones taking in the world and collecting new information is undeniably engrossing - reality drama at its best.  It saddens me that as we get older we frivolously lose that sense of wonder because life and its routine become so vapid.   Fortunately we are not left to fate, our reality is only what we believe, therefore one can choose to be in wonderment anytime and all the time!  A Buddhist lama once counseled that the secret of keeping love alive is to act as if you just met your partner for the first time.  So simple yet not so easy.  To behold our partner in the freshness of novel encounters when who they are and everything they did was uniquely them and 'cute' at first blush. Not so simple as we tend towards lackadaisical inertia and become complacent; their sweet laughter, the softness of their belly, and the warmth of their embrace - become invisible.  How do we avoid falling asleep to everyday marvels?  I think by being aware and present; not to take things for granted.  Reminds me of the movie "50 First Dates" in which Henry (Adam Sandler) falls in love with the girl of his dreams Lucy (Drew Barrymore) until he learns she has short term memory and forgets him every time she wakes up the next day.  Well, okay, maybe not to that extreme but you get the idea. ;)   It takes energy to have an attitude of fascination and to stay conscious but it does get easier and can become second nature.  Not only in love but we can bring that sense of joy and gratitude to all of life - to see, feel, hear as if for the first time.

Figs roasted with honey and rosemary.

Eating according to what is in season is a good start to getting a sense of tricking your taste buds into novelty, like a virgin with short term memory, if you will.  Every summer when I have figs there is that newness and unfamiliarity. The initial awe of the rosy erotic flesh when splayed in half and the fleeting surprise of its refreshing grassy flavor and delicate sweetness.  A friend of mine with discerning taste suggested an ice cream with figs and rosemary.  So very wise.

Being the complicated individual that I am, it naturally flows into my ice cream making.  I'll call this one Eve's Joy. Complete recipe in a later post as it is still in creation.