Food is good.

Tonight I had dinner with my brother and sister. We got together last month for dinner and a concert and enjoyed that so much that we want to start hanging out more often. In February when we all went out it was the first time we had done that as adults with just the three of us. It was really great to talk and spend time together. David, Rachel, and I have differing views on a decent amount of things, but it is very comforting knowing that we can still have good conversation about it all and come away still loving and respecting one another. Tonight's food was really good Indian! The people running the restaurant have a emphasis on cooking with fresh food, not using preservatives, and not saving food and then re-heating for multiple days. That is a very Ayurvedic approach. It took a while for our food to come out, but when it did it was sooooo good. I appreciate their approach to preparing fresh food and hope the restaurant does well. One gentleman (whom I'm guessing was the manager) said that we can think of their restaurant as an extension of our own kitchens. In going back to my thoughts and "theology of food" I appreciated him saying that. It made me want to go back there and support what they are doing. There is something very special and spiritual about preparing food for someone and sharing a meal with those you love. David, Rachel and I have always gotten along well...aside from the spats growing up and just the normal sibling "you got on my nerves when you..." kind of stuff when we were younger. Now, we have a good time when we are together and I really hope that doesn't change. I have seen how, as people get older, their relationships change to where family gatherings are so tense and people just stop talking to each other. There have been a few times when I thought that my family would change like that, but thankfully that hasn't happened. We have our own hang-ups and things to deal with, but there is a underlying love that is very strong and enduring. I hope that my kids can get together over Indian food someday and know that we might not have done everything perfectly (and surely we won't), but that they know they are loved for who they are and supported in what they do. I'm not sure when we will have another sibling dinner, but I hope it is soon and will look forward to spending time with David and Rachel again...while eating really good food somewhere. Maybe next time we can go to a Vietnamese place. Yum. (As a side note: I've noticed how food is a major current in my relationships with people. I love to eat good food and I love that my siblings and best friends also enjoy a good meal. Being able to have a good meal with my favorite people is one of the very best and sacred things I can take part in. It's like I've always been connected to the spiritual side of food, but am just now putting the pieces together.)

Rachel, David, and me

That's about right