We are not so differant, you and I. Sure, our colorings may contrast, but the meat underneath is the same. You speak with an accent, whereas I sound imperfectly normal, yet the language of life has common threads, does it not? Like you, I need food, warmth, shelter, and love.
The fun part are the differences in how we achieve those things. Food is so diverse, partly due to environmental factors, and cultural traditions, but also due to individual taste, memories, and lifestyle. At a highly-esteemed German restaurant I was served a meal in surprising (to me) layers. Firstly came lard with roast onion for on bread. My childhood involved lard, when only the poorest used it on bread. I desperately tried to hide the fact of it on my school sandwiches, but the smell treachously gave me away to delightful school bullies. This association has meant an adulthood of total abstinence, even when recipes called for lard.
Yet here it was, half a century later, and absolutely delicious. I awaited the next course with baited breath. Perhaps another misfit from my childhood? But no, it was salad, unaccompanied, orphaned. It wasn’t even a range of salads, laughing together in joyous abandon. Just salad. My tastebuds were teased, but in a pleasant way. And with the salad gone, out came meat, served all by itself unless you’d known to order potatoes and sauces with it. Glorious, stand by itself, thick tender beef. My beautiful steak had been shipped all the way from Argentina. Apparently Germany no longer feeds itself. The air-miles and carbon footprint don’t bear thinking about. At home I dine guilt free, knowing our farm is giving more than it’s taking. My pleasure in Argentinian steak was tinged with sorrow. Next time I will ask for local foods, perhaps to dine only on bread and water.
The restaurant was busy, and the food lovely, but the evening spoiled when the staff wouldn’t accept my card, despite it being in Euros. They would not even try. This night had been a treat, but my guests had to pay on my behalf. The embarrassment was not as easily settled as the debt.
The second common thread we share is shelter, which comes in many forms, but generally involves a roof, windows, and at least one door. My home has no need for shutters, and certainly has no barn attached. Our summer heat would develop the smell most unfortunately. But in Germany, to see barns in village settings, complete with animals, feed and tractors, is so right. Our separation from such things is based on the old english country garden style, where the house ‘section’ contains human and garden-related items only. Nor do we feel the need to stack our firewood high along house walls. We generally don’t get the three feet of snow which makes such things practical.
Warmth comes from firewood in most areas across the globe, but there is change in the air. How thrilling to see vast solar farms for environmentally friendly power, and building practices designed to encourage passive heating of homes. Many now have pipework underground which uses the earth’s warmth to run underfloor heating. Maybe some day this simple concept will catch on in my own area.
The fourth necessity of life is love. I was lucky enough to visit extended families in Germany, and see the interaction between generations. Love is an international language. I had no need of an interpreter when watching grandparents with wee ones, nor whilst sharing a lovely afternoon tea with the extended families of friends. There’s simple teasing, warmth in the eyes, and laughter. But not all is rosy. The tone lowers with concern at times, as worries are shared, mulled over and interrogated. Advice is sought, or perhaps given despite not being asked for, and frustrations aired. But just like at home, family leave with the gift of a hug, maybe a jar of something to be enjoyed later, and waves that continue until the car has turned out of sight.
Indeed, we may be differant on the outside, but you and I share more common threads than we realise. Perhaps therein lies the true path to solid relationships; celebrate the commonalities and explore the variations? I’m game if you are.
Stories for you - Enjoy! 