They Say It's Her Birthday!

 I got some more experience today for becoming even better at my new career. I met Hank and Rachel (the birthday girl) and Jessie and Vergil for lunch at everyone's favorite restaurant- Kool Beanz. 

I have mentioned it many times. Glen and I used to eat there every Friday night back when I was a normal human being who went out at night and crazy things like that. 
But I still love to eat there. It's always amazing. Every one of us today got a different fish dish. I can't remember what they all were but they were all delicious. I got jerked salmon cakes with black beans and rice with a plantain sauce of some sort. Man, it was good. And since it was Rachel's birthday, dessert had to be eaten. Hank and Rachel split a piece of coconut cake, as did Jessie and Vergil. I got a piece to go which I brought home for my husband because coconut cake is his favorite. 

This is what it looked like. 

I love how it seems as if golden light is emanating from it. Might as well be. The pastry chef at Kool Beanz is a woman who used to be a server there. For many years, she took care of us most Friday nights and we loved her so. She's just the sweetest woman. And now she does all the desserts and is a James Beard Award nominee. We are proud of her! 

After lunch, all of us but Vergil, who had to go back to work, went to the same thrift store that Jessie and I went to a few weeks ago. It's called City Walk but I always call it Urban Christian Thrift Store and the kids laugh but they know what I mean. 
I didn't get anything but I have to admit I was very tempted by this and now I'm kicking myself for not getting it. 

You know how much I love the Big Pig in Apalachicola and the Little Pig on St. George Island. I could have worn it over a bathing suit at the very least. 

Well. Live and learn. 

And then at a certain point, I realized I'd hit my wall. I just could not be in public for another moment and so I took Jessie home and came home myself. It's funny how this happens with me. Even my children can tell when I'm at that place. 
"You done, Mama? You had enough?" 

But it was all fun and there is something really enjoyable about thrift store shopping with my babies. We all know what each other like and will call out if we find something we think someone might need. 

I sort of collapsed when I got home and then I went out and picked some more salad greens. I have never grown such beautiful lettuce in my life. 

Or kale either. Just gorgeousness right there in my garden. 
I have been thinking about making a salad with apples and strawberries and blueberries and pecans and craisins and perhaps some goat cheese and had decided that I would do that tonight. Then I talked to Mr. Moon who has been in town all day who told me that for lunch he had had basically the same salad but with chicken on it. 
He assured me though, that he would not mind eating my version tonight. And of course our greens will be highly superior. 

So I'm going to make it anyway because, well, I'm selfish like that. 

I finished listening to "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" and I was sorry for it to end. You know- sometimes there are books that you feel like you "should" read. You know what I'm talking about. Books that are important in one way or another. Books that might teach you something. Books that might make you FEEL something, learn something, make you think about something. 
But so often these are the very books that we keep putting off reading for fear that they'll be too dense or preachy or scientific or...something. 
However, this book not only educated me about different aspects of science and medicine and cell research, it also confirmed what I figured things were probably like for Black folks in the forties and fifties in this country, especially when it came to health care. It also told the story of a woman who changed the world unknowingly, who died horribly, and who left five children to wonder and worry and ponder the reasons their mother had died. Children who had very little education, who were mostly profoundly deaf. Children who had no means to get ahead, and were shuffled to different relatives, some of whom were insanely cruel and abusive. 
Her youngest daughter, Deborah spent her life trying to figure out the mysteries that no one had ever explained to the family. She was tormented by the secrets, the not-knowing, to the point where I'm sure all of that had a part in her death. 
And while Henrietta's cells were used in virtually every lab in the world who did cell research, her family had no health insurance, no recognition, no idea how or why those scientists had gotten their mother's cells. 
The author, Rebecca Skloot has written a book that I am sure Deborah would have been certain was inspired by god and the spirit of her mother. 
It is an amazing book and if it's been on your shelf for awhile, go ahead, open it up, and start that ride. 

I guess I should watch the movie. 

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Well, happy birthday, Rachel! Thank you for including us in your celebration and thank you for becoming part of our family. We cherish, love, adore, and appreciate you. 

Love...Mamacita (Ms. Moon)

Arugula flower.