The comfort of Pho

[pegkerr]

I did not feel at all well tonight. Physically, of course, but more than than, mentally. I didn't want to cook, so I took the girls out for pho soup. We went to a restaurant minnehaha K introduced me to, and I watched them wtih covert amusement as they struggled to eat the rice noodles with chopsticks. They were cheerful at the treat, and I found myself soothed by their pleasure. "I like pho," I told them. "It's one of my favorite comfort foods. What are your favorite comfort foods?"

They considered the question seriously. "I like pho, too," Delia said. "And I like that Throat Coat Tea when I have a sore throat."

I smiled. "You know, you have minnehaha K and B to thank for both of those. B told me about Throat Coat, and K was the one to teach me about pho."

"And I like to chew on ice cubes when I have a stomach ache," Delia added.

"I used to chew on ice cubes, too, when I was your age," I told her solemnly. "Compulsively. I'll tell you what my mom told me. It's very bad for your teeth. But I understand the attraction."

The girls looked curiously at the little statute of Buddha with the cups of water and incense sticks near the front register. "What's that?" they asked me.

I explained.

"Oh," Delia said. "It's a God thing."

"Yes, it's a God thing."

We left the restaurant. It was still raining. I still felt dark inside, but a little warmer, too.

No doubt it was the pho.

Comments

[minnehaha.livejournal.com]

*pleased*

K.