On Sunday at the Olsen's Devotional we recalled those things for which we felt most grateful.I mentioned feeling grateful for utterance, words, remembering individuals who have contributed to the integrity of my life with their insightful and kind words. Sometimes, powerful concepts are found in the exquisite prose of a letter, prayer or book, other times in the kind commentary of a friend.
As we went around the room, Jim, pictured above, told his story, about being invited into the home of one of the caretakers of the Uganda Baha'i Temple while visiting in Uganda. Over a lunch of sponge bread and vegetables, the Baha'i talked about prayer, and answered Jim's questions. After a four hour conversation Jim enrolled in the Baha'i Faith. The African's sincere, insightful conversation caused Jim to reach new heights of understanding, and facilitated a transformation that began nineteen years ago, when Jim first heard about the Faith. Jim was assisting the Pygmies with workshops in the arts, bringing home copies of their artwork. His home is filled with artifacts and artwork from throughout the world.
The Olson's son Issac was one of Jim's students when he was in High School. The brilliant sunshine of the morning was replaced with a gentle cloud-cover in the afternoon.
We drove to Glen Cove, put the canoe in the water, and paddled out into the Sound. There were noisy gulls and buffle-heads that scuttled across the water as we approached them. This is one of my favorite paddles, as it eventually leads to a little lagoon so shallow that we can get out of the canoe and walk in the water. There are abundant shellfish. 
We paddled until 4:00, then George suggested going to Gateway of India for a meal. I felt a little apprehensive at first. The last time we ate Indian food in a restaurant I felt many compromises had been made to fit the American palette, the food was not flavorful and spicy. Perhaps shortcuts were made to fit the American budget as well, to bring the price down.I mentioned that we still had a curried vegetable soup and spicy porkbelly and noodles at home. I could prepare a good salad, warm up left-overs. But, our hunger got the best of us, and we decided to try Gateway to India.
We started with a red lentil/white bean soup that was wonderful, followed by a full appetizer platter, roti and naan, and Shrimp Masala Jinga and Vegetable Karahi served with rice. On a scale of 1 to 5, we ordered a #4 heat, and that was perfect - the food's flavor was not overwhelmed by the heat.
The shrimp and vegetables appeared to be grilled in ghee then topped with the sauce, not drowned by it. I really liked this approach - the veggies remain firmer, and the shrimp are plumped to perfection. Although none of my cookbooks feature cooking these dishes this way, I will most certainly adopt this approach - it offers better color, too. (Indian food is difficult to photograph.)
Best part of the meal - I didn't have to cook on Sunday, as I usually do, preparing food for George's lunches.It surely has been a memorable week with the changes in Egypt. While viewing CNN, I finished reading "Beyond the Crash - overcoming the first crisis of globalization" by Gordon Brown; "A Mountain of Crumbs - a memoir" by Elena Gorokhova; and watched "The Greeks - Crucible of Civilization" - where Greek democracy was first envisioned nearly 1000 BC. Imagine, that the Egyptians were still fighting for this right to speak out, address their concerns, and have a role to play addressing the outcomes of their lives.
So much, for my homework. It was such a banquet of information and images that my mind is a blur of hopeful outcomes.
But, I will remember, in Elena Gorokhova's memoir, her mother hunting for mushrooms in the woods; the hunger of the children; the radishes, carrots, beets and potatoes that grew in their gardens. (flickr photo by keema.)
