The clouds are back, but no rain is predicted. It will be warmish, in the mid 50’s. I have no plans for today. I may just binge on movies. Lately I have been watching disaster movies about imminent doom from volcano eruptions, melting ice, earthquakes, cyclones and tidal waves. I’ve steered clear of epidemics. It seems they produce vampires.

I mostly used to fly PanAm To Europe though I did take a few TWA trips as well. Coming back from Ghana the only non-stop flight was from PanAm, a flight which had originated in East Africa. I remember the flight. It had a few unique moments. A few hours in, the pilot announced a buffet under the stars, kind of a cute name as names go. In the back of the plane a table had been set with breads, cheeses, cold cuts and condiments. A line quickly formed then the pilot came over the loud speaker. He asked people to sit as the tail end of the plane was dragging. We had to take turns at the buffet.

When I was a kid, some foods were never served. I figure my mother knew which ones we’d eat and which ones would stay untasted, untouched. I knew beets were round and red, and I knew my grandmother loved pickled beets, but I never tasted one, never cared to and still haven’t. I don’t know why. My mother never served honey. I did taste it, but in a candy bar, Bit O’ Honey. I thought it had a sort of strange taste, but I liked it. I always have honey in my house now, not only to eat but in case of mass destruction. Honey doesn’t spoil. Brussels sprouts never made an appearance on our dinner table. Cabbage did but only on St. Patrick’s Day. I always thought Brussel sprouts were baby cabbages, a vegetable never allowed to grow old. We didn’t eat okra, but I think my mother never heard of okra. I eat it now. I hated wax beans, both green and yellow. They were always mushy out of the can. I forced down French green beans.

It was Africa which expanded my palate. I was willing to try just about everything. I came to love plantain, okra stew, goat, tuber yam, which looked like tree bark, mangoes and paw paw, known as papaya here. I still love those Ghanaian foods. My favorites, which are easy to make here, are kelewele and jollof rice.

Because I live alone, my meals are haphazard. I lean toward quick and easy. I’m a fan of eggs of any sort for any meal. I crack them and leave them to cook. I mostly eat chicken. I am a cheese fan. Last night I had avocado toast for dinner. That is my definition for quick and easy, and I’ll add tasty.