The Combo Platter

by Belinda Munoz on May 9, 2012

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Big things, in a way, are simpler.

Often, it’s the little things that I find (make?) complicated.

Take dinner, for example. What’s for dinner? Hmmm, let’s see. What’s in the fridge? Nothing? What’s in season? Oh, no time to stop by the grocery store?

What’s quick and easy? Shall we go out for Thai or Japanese? What did you have for lunch? Wanna get burritos? Too heavy?

What about that Pho place around the corner? It closed? Really? When? How did I not know this? I loved that place!

It sounds painful, doesn’t it?

I’m aware of how indecision plagues me as I hash out my thought process over something that can be simplified. Thankfully, my husband has had a lot of practice rolling with my ongoing internal debacle as I explore all the choices available to me about dinner and other similar day-to-day matters.

I do better with big things.

Love over indifference, hate, apathy? Yes.

Knowledge over ignorance? Why, yes, that is my preference. (Though I myself wouldn’t claim to be more knowledgeable than ignorant at any given moment. The books I haven’t read and will never read? Voluminous.)

Marriage equality over picking and choosing who gets to take institutionally recognized vows and who doesn’t? Absolutely.

Equality for all, though some would disagree, is a worthwhile goal. Geographic and economic luck aside, we are equal in significant ways. Did we get here other than by birth? No. Do any of us get to escape death? Unless you believe that The Avengers are real, then no. Do we get to pick and choose what aspects of life come our way? If we’re even somewhat engaged in our own lives, then hardly if at all. Our palate may have a preferred taste, but our plate does not have the final say. We pretty much get it all: the loss, the pain, the sadness, the joy, the laughter, the light.

The combo platter.

That appears to be what’s on the menu at the proverbial table. I for one prefer the flavors of joy, but alas, those are always peppered with a pinch of pain. Just like life is laced with loss. And to be able to partake in the feast, to be able to sample each bite, is, I would think, not a prerogative but rather a birthright.

+++++++++++++++++
Do you eat the same thing for dinner every night? Would you want to?
Too much food talk? Let’s move on to beverage preferences. Still or bubbly? Shaken or stirred? Red or white? Coffee or tea?

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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }

1 Meg May 9, 2012 at 5:40 am

Bubbly. Definitely bubbly. I don’t have the same thing for dinner every night, but I do have the same thing for breakfast, so does that count? Coffee in the morning, tea at 4 pm daily.

Seriously, though, while reading this entertaining segue from deciding what to eat to much larger concepts, I had a vision of my life as a plate of pasta–plain cooked pasta tossed in a bit of olive oil, and ready for any topping or sauce that came along.

Now I can’t stop smiling. It suits, it really suits–I’m a minimalist, I’ve been through all kinds of situations in my life, and fully prepared to deal with all kinds more. I’ve a strong preference for fresh garlicky pesto, roasted red peppers, and a generous dab of ricotta, but will eat it any way I can get it, even plain :)

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2 Belinda May 9, 2012 at 2:53 pm

Meg, I love pasta, too, and could pretty much eat it everyday! I’m partial to red sauces but I also love pesto, garlic and olive oil or, my son’s favorite, butter and parmesan. Yum! :)

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3 ayala May 9, 2012 at 11:35 am

So true in order to partake in the feast, we have to sample it all. Joy peppered with a pinch of pain… it’s always that way….. that’s life.

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4 Geoff May 9, 2012 at 9:52 pm

I’m really enjoying your blog posts Belinda it is a pleasure to read what you have to say.When I get my blog together I hope the feeling will be mutual.

Thank you

The Big G

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5 BigLittleWolf May 15, 2012 at 4:22 pm

I love this post! Aren’t we all better off with the combo platter – or many variations on the combo platter?

And yes, it’s easy to get lost in the details (though we know what Mies Van Der Rohe said… ). Without the big picture, it’s hard to make the details hang together in anything recognizable…

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