Once upon a time, long ago, WHERE the trees grew tall and the people were content, and the King and Queen were fair and just, there was a Princess who wanted to EVADE marriage. You see she was very happy being single. She told her parents, the aforementioned just and fair King and Queen, that she wanted to SEIZE life by the horns and ride along the FENCE, wild and free, for as long as she could. (The Princess loved to try out metaphors – there was no fence, as despite the tall trees, this Kingdom was urban). The King and Queen, being fair and just as well as loving their daughter very much, agreed to notify the YENTE to cancel the search for a spouse. But they wanted something in return. (For being fair and just as rulers and parents, this was an opportunity to teach about commitments and energy exchanges among people) They required the Princess to choose a trade and not just ride free, but also to learn. The Princess thought long and hard, deciding finally that what she wanted most to learn was how to cook. This would be not only fun, but also useful, teaching many skills, including generosity. For what cook doesn’t love to share the results of their labor? And so, after much study and dedication mixed with just the right amount of metaphorical horn seizing, the Princess catered a gigantic feast featuring her signature PENNE all’arrabbiata. The fair and just King and Queen were very proud of her. And the people were even more content to have such a skilled chef for a Princess. And they all lived happily ever after.
Oh, what about the marriage you ask? Well, that’s a story for a different day.

Georg’ann

Friends had EXTRA. Called,
invited me to their HOUSE
for a simple summer meal
of gazpacho, tabouli, crackers
and cheese, a bit of fruit salad.

Contentment came in slices
each time the KNIFE cut
through the earthy hard cheese.
Taste softening the soup’s acidity.
All elements complimentary.
Balance in taste, texture, color.

Leftover pesto PENNE was offered,
should I want a bite.
No inclination to add
another element, I declined.

In a further bit of spontaneity
we played a new board game.
One that was strategic,
and like the meal, aesthetic
in design with a sumptuous feel.

Heather