Long grain rice came out of a 100-pound burlap bag that need to be washed.
With running water out of the sink, I washed the rice by running my fingers through it.
Pouring out the cloudy water three times, the rice is cleaned.
With one finger digit, there’s always enough water to begin the rice.
Watching the covered pot come to a boil prevents the water bubbling over its sides.
Taking the cover off but leaving it half covering the pot, the rest of the water boils off.
I cover it again and simmer it until we eat.
Rice is nice this way.
My mother told me that unless, I ate all my food and particularly the rice in my bowl,
I may not marry a beautiful wife.
I imagined that every uneaten grain of rice could be an acne on my wife’s face.
Rice is nice when completely eaten.
Unlike the sharpness of forks and knives, chopsticks are a civilized way to eat.
Instead of shoveling in food, chopsticks help us to eat food piece by piece.
Our digestion thanks us for slow-eating with chopsticks.
Picking up every rice with chopsticks led to a pretty woman in my life.
We celebrate Chinese New Year dinner with sticky rice.
We scoop up lots of rice for our kids and grandkids and remind them to eat it all.
Sweet rice, black sesame paste, and fruit for dessert leave our mouths wanting more.
Because rice is life.