"Be good to a coworker."
Truly? THAT is the message in my fortune cookie???
Okay, let's give it a thought and see if the cookie has a clue. It was a Wednesday evening and I'd been able to go to my favorite place - you know which one! - and had grabbed a dessert with a message on my way out the door.
I had arrived to another engagement when I read the message - too dark in the car to even try to read it at a stoplight - and I didn't have time to really ponder it. Nor did I need time. Just about the same instant that I thought "what does it mean, if anything?" the response popped in. Go check on the cat owner.
After I returned home, I did just that, to an extent. I logged into fb and went to the page of the cat owner. Hmmm, nothing more about the cat, nothing more about anything, no entries for several days. Okay, that doesn't prove anything one way or the other, times are very hectic at this point in a semester. I made a mental note to check in, physically, the next day to see how things were faring. Maybe the cookie DID know something, maybe not. It's JUST a cookie.
Still, I've had enough experience with THESE dessert items to try to keep an open mind.
And the cookie was right. The cat owner's elderly cat had died. I heard the story of the cat's last few days and the continuing story of the remaining cats and the loss felt by the owner. I heard tales of the cat's personality, his little quirks and habits. I heard that THIS moment belonged to that ONE cat, not to the others.
"Be good to a coworker."
Thanks. I'll try to pay better attention so I don't need messages from a cookie to go see a friend.
Showing posts with label fortune cookie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fortune cookie. Show all posts
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sunday, November 20, 2011
fortune cookie
Ya gotta love fortune cookies. They say the damnedest things at the damnedest times, much like a three-year-old child. "A nice cake is waiting for you" is a prime example.
You think the message is garbled until subsequent events seem to prove the cookie right. I say "seem to" because the end can usually be made to fit the means, if you're a mind to do so.
Even so, sometimes I choose to lend credence to the words. For some times, I need to believe in a bit of positive in my corner. Some times are a bit rougher than others and warrant clutching at wisps of "yes" wherever they appear. This time of year can be especially cold and chill you to the bone, if you're not careful.
Most of the time, when I dine at my favorite source of massive quantities of fresh vegetables, cooked to order, I don't bother with a fortune cookie. Not that they are unavailable or hard to obtain. Oh, no. There's a jar full of them on the check-out counter, luring eyes and fingers. No, my reason for not grabbing one is this: I prefer to receive my fortunes as a random gift. If the waiter doesn't bring one with the bill, then I abstain.
My waitress this evening, a waitress I have had before, surprised me with the gift of a fortune cookie. I thanked her and decided to wait until I was home to break it open, as I was unusually full from dinner. Also, I felt the need to BE home, as I had been out all afternoon and most of the evening. So, I arrive home (the dash light working this time, so I could see my speedometer), enter my warm, lit house, and get settled in. The cookie had already crumbled in my pocket by the time I pulled it out, but the fortune was still nestled in the folds, avoiding my view. I open the wrapper, remove half the cookie and eat it as I am freeing the message.
"You will have many friends when you need them."
Nice! But how did the cookie know I had been wondering about such things?
Last night was one of those rare occasions when I felt that life was GOOD. I had gone downtown to hear Magic Rocks making rock music, as I had been invited to the gig. Ordinarily, I would have seen the 22:30 start time and opted out. This time was different, as if I were truly meant to be there. The weather had warmed such that I didn't really need a jacket, though I took one anyway. The traffic downtown was almost nonexistent; I effortlessly found parking close to where I thought I was going.
I ended up having a nice stroll whilst looking for the venue and arrived right after a large party had left, vacating several tables right in front of the band. Incredible. I had no sooner sat down than I was joined by a new friend, with word that others were on their way from a birthday celebration. Fabulous! And there we were with plenty of room for all! And the band was playing some of my favorite songs... and the waitress helped enact my request for a dance floor... and the others had arrived and we were all grooving to the music... And I realized how GOOD it felt to be surrounded by friends, beside me, behind me, in front of me, listening to great music and watching a ship pass by in the windows behind the band as they rocked out.
I spend a lot of time alone. That isn't unusual for me and, quite truly, that's the way it has been for much of my life. "Alone" doesn't mean "lonely". I have found that "lonely" can, and does, occur when others are present. But last night, I had gone out alone, but not lonely, and had been in the right place for friends to find me and join me.
I think I need to keep doing that.
You think the message is garbled until subsequent events seem to prove the cookie right. I say "seem to" because the end can usually be made to fit the means, if you're a mind to do so.
Even so, sometimes I choose to lend credence to the words. For some times, I need to believe in a bit of positive in my corner. Some times are a bit rougher than others and warrant clutching at wisps of "yes" wherever they appear. This time of year can be especially cold and chill you to the bone, if you're not careful.
Most of the time, when I dine at my favorite source of massive quantities of fresh vegetables, cooked to order, I don't bother with a fortune cookie. Not that they are unavailable or hard to obtain. Oh, no. There's a jar full of them on the check-out counter, luring eyes and fingers. No, my reason for not grabbing one is this: I prefer to receive my fortunes as a random gift. If the waiter doesn't bring one with the bill, then I abstain.
My waitress this evening, a waitress I have had before, surprised me with the gift of a fortune cookie. I thanked her and decided to wait until I was home to break it open, as I was unusually full from dinner. Also, I felt the need to BE home, as I had been out all afternoon and most of the evening. So, I arrive home (the dash light working this time, so I could see my speedometer), enter my warm, lit house, and get settled in. The cookie had already crumbled in my pocket by the time I pulled it out, but the fortune was still nestled in the folds, avoiding my view. I open the wrapper, remove half the cookie and eat it as I am freeing the message.
"You will have many friends when you need them."
Nice! But how did the cookie know I had been wondering about such things?
Last night was one of those rare occasions when I felt that life was GOOD. I had gone downtown to hear Magic Rocks making rock music, as I had been invited to the gig. Ordinarily, I would have seen the 22:30 start time and opted out. This time was different, as if I were truly meant to be there. The weather had warmed such that I didn't really need a jacket, though I took one anyway. The traffic downtown was almost nonexistent; I effortlessly found parking close to where I thought I was going.
I ended up having a nice stroll whilst looking for the venue and arrived right after a large party had left, vacating several tables right in front of the band. Incredible. I had no sooner sat down than I was joined by a new friend, with word that others were on their way from a birthday celebration. Fabulous! And there we were with plenty of room for all! And the band was playing some of my favorite songs... and the waitress helped enact my request for a dance floor... and the others had arrived and we were all grooving to the music... And I realized how GOOD it felt to be surrounded by friends, beside me, behind me, in front of me, listening to great music and watching a ship pass by in the windows behind the band as they rocked out.
I spend a lot of time alone. That isn't unusual for me and, quite truly, that's the way it has been for much of my life. "Alone" doesn't mean "lonely". I have found that "lonely" can, and does, occur when others are present. But last night, I had gone out alone, but not lonely, and had been in the right place for friends to find me and join me.
I think I need to keep doing that.
Saturday, July 2, 2011
fortune cookie says...
"You're not afraid of storms, for you're learning to sail your ship."
Seriously. That was the message received with lunch today.
I was dining with my middle brother on this beautiful, blue-sky, hot summer day. I had chosen this restaurant because it's one of my favorites and we happened to be right there, as we had first gone to the drivers license office. Asian Buffet always has a wide assortment of sushi rolls and nigiri sushi, as well as some dim sum and other goodies, and more traditional fare, too.
He was enjoying the cheesy mussels - he had seven! - and I was getting my fill of several different types of sushi rolls. I tried twice to let him taste, but he couldn't get past the taste of the algae, so that was that.
We had a good lunch together, getting caught up with happenings in each other's lives, eating good food, taking our time. After all, it was a fine Saturday of a holiday weekend and we had no agenda at hand. Very nice lunch and good conversation. Then my fortune came and it read like it was meant JUST for me.
Mind, when the check came with the two fortune cookies on the tray, I had touched the cookie closest to me to move it so I could read the total on the bill. Having confirmed the total was correct, I had placed the cookie back on the tray. I then waited for him to select which cookie he wanted and, when he had not chosen for several minutes, I went ahead and picked up the cookie I had returned to the tray.
That cookie was clearly meant for me. Am I not learning to sail my own ship? Yes, I may be foundering from time to time, but 'tis my own ship and mine alone. If it runs aground occasionally, so be it. I'll make the most of the delay as I wait for a high tide to lift me up and away again. Then I'll be catching the breeze in my sails and searching for that next bright star to steer her by.
Lovely image, that. How did the fortune cookie know?
Seriously. That was the message received with lunch today.
I was dining with my middle brother on this beautiful, blue-sky, hot summer day. I had chosen this restaurant because it's one of my favorites and we happened to be right there, as we had first gone to the drivers license office. Asian Buffet always has a wide assortment of sushi rolls and nigiri sushi, as well as some dim sum and other goodies, and more traditional fare, too.
He was enjoying the cheesy mussels - he had seven! - and I was getting my fill of several different types of sushi rolls. I tried twice to let him taste, but he couldn't get past the taste of the algae, so that was that.
We had a good lunch together, getting caught up with happenings in each other's lives, eating good food, taking our time. After all, it was a fine Saturday of a holiday weekend and we had no agenda at hand. Very nice lunch and good conversation. Then my fortune came and it read like it was meant JUST for me.
Mind, when the check came with the two fortune cookies on the tray, I had touched the cookie closest to me to move it so I could read the total on the bill. Having confirmed the total was correct, I had placed the cookie back on the tray. I then waited for him to select which cookie he wanted and, when he had not chosen for several minutes, I went ahead and picked up the cookie I had returned to the tray.
That cookie was clearly meant for me. Am I not learning to sail my own ship? Yes, I may be foundering from time to time, but 'tis my own ship and mine alone. If it runs aground occasionally, so be it. I'll make the most of the delay as I wait for a high tide to lift me up and away again. Then I'll be catching the breeze in my sails and searching for that next bright star to steer her by.
Lovely image, that. How did the fortune cookie know?
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
chocolate words of wisdom
Lately, I've been enjoying a piece or two of dark chocolate before bed. (Note that I said "before bed" as opposed to "in bed", for those who know my singing bird.)
Anywho, a dear friend here in town introduced me to the joy of Dove Dark Chocolate Promises. At only 41 little calories per glorious piece, they're a nice little treat before bedtime, just a little something to signal the day's end.
One of the perks of this treat is this: there's a little saying on the inside of the wrapper. It's almost like getting a fortune cookie! When I first started eating these fine chocolates about three years ago, the sayings were all supplied by Dove. Not so anymore! At some time between the last bag of chocolates (sadly, a few months have elapsed in my chocolate ingestion!) and the ones purchased just a couple of weeks ago, a big change had occurred. Dove now has sayings from women all over the USA. Well, perhaps I generalize, perhaps not. This far, I have only seen women's names and have only seen cities and states in this part of North America. What a surprise! The bag has nothing to indicate the change in origin of the sayings, not a word. So, either this change occurred long enough ago that it is no longer noteworthy or I have missed something in the fine print.
With no further ado, here are a few of my favorites:
"Dance like no one is watching." Sally, Locke, NY I am a firm believer in the power of dance to free one's soul. As I have said many times, dancing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
"Here's to something more powerful than chocolate. Hope." Leah, New York, NY Another one that I live by. If ever I lose hope, that thing with feathers that perches in my soul, then I have truly lost myself.
"Keep moving forward; don't look back." Sally, Griffith, IN You can't do anything about what happened in the past. At worst, you learn from it and move on. At best, you enjoy the memory of a golden time!
"Blessings only come to those who notice." Jean, Houston, TX Tiny little miracles occur every day - EVERY DAY - just waiting for you to look outside yourself and see them. My latest passion is taking pictures of clouds, for every formation is different and unique and never to be repeated.
"When you can't control the wind, adjust your sails." Brenda, Schofield, WI What better way to end a day at the beach?
Anywho, a dear friend here in town introduced me to the joy of Dove Dark Chocolate Promises. At only 41 little calories per glorious piece, they're a nice little treat before bedtime, just a little something to signal the day's end.
One of the perks of this treat is this: there's a little saying on the inside of the wrapper. It's almost like getting a fortune cookie! When I first started eating these fine chocolates about three years ago, the sayings were all supplied by Dove. Not so anymore! At some time between the last bag of chocolates (sadly, a few months have elapsed in my chocolate ingestion!) and the ones purchased just a couple of weeks ago, a big change had occurred. Dove now has sayings from women all over the USA. Well, perhaps I generalize, perhaps not. This far, I have only seen women's names and have only seen cities and states in this part of North America. What a surprise! The bag has nothing to indicate the change in origin of the sayings, not a word. So, either this change occurred long enough ago that it is no longer noteworthy or I have missed something in the fine print.
With no further ado, here are a few of my favorites:
"Dance like no one is watching." Sally, Locke, NY I am a firm believer in the power of dance to free one's soul. As I have said many times, dancing is the most fun you can have with your clothes on!
"Here's to something more powerful than chocolate. Hope." Leah, New York, NY Another one that I live by. If ever I lose hope, that thing with feathers that perches in my soul, then I have truly lost myself.
"Keep moving forward; don't look back." Sally, Griffith, IN You can't do anything about what happened in the past. At worst, you learn from it and move on. At best, you enjoy the memory of a golden time!
"Blessings only come to those who notice." Jean, Houston, TX Tiny little miracles occur every day - EVERY DAY - just waiting for you to look outside yourself and see them. My latest passion is taking pictures of clouds, for every formation is different and unique and never to be repeated.
"When you can't control the wind, adjust your sails." Brenda, Schofield, WI What better way to end a day at the beach?
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