Читать книгу Plato and Potato Chips - June Inc. Luvisi - Страница 17

Posted on August 29, 2010 by June

Some may think living in an apartment building that belonged to one’s parents might be a pretty good way to grow up, and it was. That is, looking back over the years from an adult perspective. After all, it was the largest apartment building on the block. Of course, like most kids, I wanted more than anything else to blend into the pack. Being a landlord’s daughter, and living in a small apartment in our building (though it was first floor front, as my mother pointed out), did not make for a life I would have sought out.

No, I wanted to be just like the girl down the block. SHE lived in a real house that was surrounded by well-tended lawn and gardens. SHE had a mother who stayed home all day and twirled her daughter’s naturally curly, blond locks around her fingers after the girl emerged from a carefully drawn bath. SHE could pluck crisp red and white radishes from her garden and offer one to me. SHE had a large, welcoming front porch with a comfy swing. And I noticed with a pang of envy that she seemed to have a pack of friends.

I vividly remember sitting with her on her front steps while the two of us carefully licked the salt off Mrs. Japp’s Potato Chips before swallowing them. We were convinced we had discovered a new method of eating them that brought their flavor on our tongues to a new level. Little did passersby realize that the two little girls in sun suits on the steps were gourmands in the making!

A touch of harsh reality colors the picture, however, when I remember that World War II was just around the corner. Suddenly Mrs. Japp’s became Jay’s because Japp sounded just like Jap, and who would want to buy potato chips associated with those fiends with buckteeth who were out to kill us? The government told us these people were so dangerous to us that they had to be hunted down and thrown into camps for our protection. Yes, fortunately, as years passed this demonization of the Japanese gradually faded from the public memory.

But what a lesson here for me. My visit to Japan years later would, of course, confirm my positive appreciation for the Japanese people and culture. Actually, there are many things we could learn from them, including their awareness and respect for elders. Sure good for nothings are found in all cultures and old age is not a guarantee of character. Yet the expressions of courtesy for old age bring something beautiful into our lives, something sometimes missing in our growingly callous society.

And do you know something? Occasionally, I still lick the salt off of my potato chips. There’s food for thought there.