JUST A THOUGHT: “Joy is the eternal youth of the spirit.” – Ippolito Nieva
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SIMPLE LANG: What’s your simple pleasure? My friend, Bert, says that one of life’s surprising pleasures is taking coffee with semi-ripe mango and two thumbs of Butterfinger.
My simple pleasure comes easier, given my rural upbringing. Give me fried (saba) bananas and brewed coffee any time. You’ll be amazed at how fast I can say yes to anything.
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A BOOK CALLED ‘SIMPLE PLEASURES:’ Years ago in the US, I picked up a book called “Simple Pleasures.” It had the following sub-title: “Soothing Suggestions and Small Comforts for Living Well Year Round.”
Written by Robert Taylor, Susannah Seton and David Greer, the book is a wonderful source book of ideas, projects, stories, recipes and inspirational quotations that can be anyone’s guide to life and living.
The activities lined up in the book are divided into four seasons, making sure that one’s year will be full. The suggestions are really quite simple, such as preparing a particular dish or dessert when one is feeling low or under the weather.
The book also lists down a number of recipes as recalled by various contributors who turned to them at some point in their life to seek comfort.
Aside from preparing comfort food, activities lined up include planning games, getting a massage, recalling their favorite activities yesterday when they were young.
The book’s blurb says it all: “With stories, quotes, tips, and recipes, Simple Pleasures is an unusual and charming guide to appreciating the simple things that make up daily life….a celebration of the art of living well.”
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LESSONS: The book reminds me of a line from the Italian film, “Lessons in Chocolate.”
While the lead characters were being taught in class about preparing chocolate specialties, their teacher tells them that what’s more important is “creating tiny moments of ecstasy with each bite of chocolate.”
