sometimes you can't make it on your own

Hi guys,

How are you all? Things are good here. I'm feeling pretty melancholy, but I'm sure it is transitory. I went on a walk today, hoping to see some counrtyside and greenery to soothe my soul. Instead, I ended up at the local Middle Eastern grocery store where I bought ingrediants for kosheri, plus some pistachio helva and grapeleaves. I know Bethany is the only other one who liked helva, but what can I say?

The cashier wanted to know why I knew Middle Eastern food. He wanted to know if I spoke Arabic. In Arabic I answered, "Why yes, yes I do speak Arabic quite fluently, actually. Thanks for asking, it has been awhile since I've spoken. Your dialect does not sound like the Egyptian colloquial with which I am most familiar. Are you...let me guess, Jordanian?"

I used to only be able to say "I understand Arabic" with a cocky smile, but I've been studying.

Anyway, my melancholoy had momentary appeasment when I noted that the fuul beans I wanted had passed the expiration date by a week or so. I said I would buy them for half price, he said that if I took all that he had left, I could have them at a quarter of the price. I assented, and felt pleased. It was almost like haggling again. Except...he was offering me a better deal than I had asked for.

Now I have lots of fuul. The packaging is funny. Perhaps later I will post a picture of it. (What a funny age we live in.)

~ Chelsea