Wednesday, February 28, 2007

Black Annie

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When we had just moved to the US I bought A. a black baby doll for her birthday. The white ones seemed uninteresting, having their eyes closed, while the black dolls looked sweet.
When A had unwrapped the package she immediately flung the poor baby into the corner of the room, because she smelled so chemical, we later found out.
However, when the smell had worn off, Annie became A’s favourite.
Jonathan, our Afro-American friend, was amazed, shocked in fact. How could a white girl have a black doll? But we, not having grown up in a racially conscious environment, we didn’t see why not.
Annie has remained A’s favourite, and Jon has since told the story as an example of cross-racial thinking.
We didn’t think it was such a big deal!

Friday, February 16, 2007

The Earth is Humming

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The earth is humming
a deep rumbling sound,
caused by the waves of the seas.

Is it content and unconcerned
about the creatures
crawling on its skin?

Is it happy in the wind,
rolling round in its diurnal course
with rocks and stones and trees?

Monday, February 12, 2007

Adam was Lost

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Adam was lost. At the usual morning feeding ritual, only old Schmiego and Eva were present. Strange. Where could he be?
P. went upstairs and opened all the doors of the attic.
Nothing.
Five minutes later he came crying down the stairs: “I was all alone. You left me. I was all alone.”
“Adam,” I called. “Come on then, Adam.”
“I was all alone. Where were you?” he answered.
He didn’t care about food. He wanted to talk to us.
“I’m back,” he nuzzled his sister.
“I’m back,” he tried to follow Schmiego, who would have none of it.
“I’m back,” he told me, and daringly climbed onto the table where I was reading the paper.
“Yes, Adam,” I said. “You’re back.”
He is now checking out the familiar places.
Adam is back.

Tuesday, February 06, 2007

Roasted Sweet Potato and Cole Slaw

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We had a delicious meal last night:

I roasted a peeled and coarsely chopped sweet potato in olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic, rosemary and thyme in a 225 centegrade oven until soft and browned at the edges. Mixed in some crème fraîche just before the end.

Served it with cole slaw: made a remoulade with half yoghurt/half mayonaise, salt, pepper, mustard, lemon juice and honey. Stirred into it some grated carrot and some shredded cabbage.

The biggest job of a dish like this is cleaning up! The rest is o, so simple