the petals fall on my nose

I’m never going to eat food ever again

I feel the need to share my cookbook project here.

Skip this, read it, whatever, but I wanted to post this because I’m not sure if I’m going to get my project back to show my friends. This project is based on creating recipes about a few people and myself but I’d like to share the introduction to my cookbook. This project called for two pages, but I had so much to write that I ended up with four…

            Welcome to a glimpse of my cookbook, which is based on a group of influential friends and me.  Though the dishes may seem ordinary, a closer look at the ingredients and preparations will change your mind, as well as pull you into a sort of reverie; it will be as if you can actually picture exactly how my friends and I are and the little idiosyncrasies that define who we are. I invite you to listen to my words, and to understand why I chose to show you the following recipes that you will soon taste in your mind’s taste buds.

            For my first recipe, I chose “Dabbie Milk Tea with Boba”, as a tribute to one of my closest and best friends, Dabbie Pan. I chose this drink because she is a very simple person, yet complex and intricate at the same time. A few of the key ingredients of this drink are Thinking, Faith, and Loyalty. Out of all her traits, these three stand out the most because they greatly define her character and set her apart from anybody else that I have met. She is a thinker—complete opposite from me, for I am a big-time feeler and I speak from my emotions while she thinks everything through and sometimes makes situations more complex than they should be. As you might guess, we have a lot of arguments due to this difference between us but that is what makes our friendship unique because we are not afraid to voice our own thoughts and opinions. Also, she is deeply rooted in her faith as a Christian; she inspires me to become closer to God through her burning desire to always praise and prioritize Him. Last but definitely not least, Dabbie is the most loyal person I have ever met. Even though I feel guilty admitting this, she is always the one who apologizes or confronts first during our arguments. She thinks so highly of having me as her friend, and that is what makes her beautiful to me, because no matter how wrong or unjust I am to her, she always seeks to make amends and tries to talk our problems out. Dabbie is the only person I know that would work this hard to keep me in her life, and for that, I truly do look up to her. Sometimes I wish I could tell her how big of an impact she has on my life, for I don’t think she knows.

            My next dish is my “Phillip-Style Salad”, and it is based on one of the most important men in my life. I chose this dish to represent Phillip because he is a mixture of many traits and characteristics. Phillip is my first love and throughout the four years we have been together, I have never wished to be with anybody better. For his salad, a few of the key ingredients are Silly, Generosity, and Security. Phillip is probably the silliest person I know, and at times he drives me up the wall. However, I wouldn’t trade that quality for anything else because through this, we enjoy many laughs and jokes, which makes life a little bit more fun. He is also very generous, and this is evident through the way he always thinks of everybody’s happiness before his. He is quick to offer rides, food, chores, and seeks nothing in return. Something that is quite unique about Phillip is that even though he looks awfully intimidating because of his height, he has the most tender heart out of everybody that I know and to me, that is irreplaceable. Last but not least, he wraps me in an overwhelming sense of protection and security, which is a relief for me because I am an anxious and worrisome person. Phillip has made a great, significant impact in my life because he has taught me to be a more patient, kind, and genuine person—he is a big reason why I am the person that I am today, and for that, I am forever thankful of his presence in my life.

            The main course of my meal is the “Spicy Heather Popcorn Chicken”, and it is clearly representative of one of my closest friends, Heather. I chose this dish because she is a spunky, zesty character, and she never fails to brighten up a dull day. A few significant ingredients in this dish is Kindness, Blunt, and Understanding. Heather is a very kind person deep down, and this trait of hers is quite clear to anybody who gets the chance to see the person she truly is. She is quick to offer rides or food to anybody around her, especially me, and she does not hesitate to show affection and care for me. Another trait that sets Heather apart is being blunt. At first, her bluntness may seem offensive to the common ear, but I have learned not to misjudge her through her blatant honesty, for her intentions are not to offend anybody. On the contrary, I am actually fond of this trait because it shows me that she is not afraid to hide her true emotions and thoughts from me; I need a friend to tell me the way things really are and to point out my flaws without being afraid to hurt my feelings. Being blunt shows me that Heather is a friend that I can count on to always tell me the truth, and that is unique because you will not find many people in the world like her. My favorite characteristic about Heather is that she is one of the most understanding people that I know. She does not judge me, and she accepts me for who I am and all my flaws. If I do something embarrassing in front of her, she will just laugh along with me, not at me. If I have family or friend issues, she is never quick to just tell me what she thinks I would like to hear or show any indication that she does not care. Heather always listens intently and thinks thoroughly of what to advise me. With her understanding nature, I can always count on her to tell me exactly what is best for me, and that is the greatest indicator of what a true friend is.

            My final dish and dessert is the “Shaved Ice with Mariel Bits”, and it is obviously based on me and how I feel my friends view me as. Just like Phillip, I chose a dish that represented something that is a little bit of everything, for I feel as though I have many different characteristics that define me. A few ingredients that stand out in this dessert are Energy, Stubborn, and Passion. If anybody knows me, they would be familiar of how energetic I could be when I am my normal self, when I am not preoccupied with anxious thoughts or problems. I have been told that my energy is contagious, and if anybody is feeling down, I could help perk them up in an instant if I am in that energetic state. Something negative about myself is my stubbornness, and I know that I must own up to this flaw because it is something that is quite distinct in my character. Many of my close friends would agree that if things do not go my way, I would be extremely disappointed and push for things to go a certain way. When I feel as though I know a lot about something, I will be persistent and insist on going with my plan. I know this makes me sound selfish, but I hope you can trust me when I say that I do not have any selfish intentions whatsoever and whatever I am stubborn for, it is usually for the benefit of others. However, that does not mean that I do not wish to change that part of me, because I am quite aware that that is a gigantic flaw in my character. Lastly and hopefully not least, my passion is something that I personally believe sets me apart from my peers. This trait ties in closely with my stubbornness, but not always. I am passionate about most things in life, such as tennis, knitting, education, and reading. When I choose to do something, I give it my all and will not settle for the bare minimal effort. My passion is what drives me to try and work harder than anybody, everyday, until I reach the sky and land on the stars, throwing sunflowers down on earth as I make my way up to fulfilling my dreams.

            These four recipes is a glimpse of what my life is like and the relations that I have with my friends. Though I could only included three of my closest friends, I would like to make it known that if given the choice, I would have created a recipe for every person that has influenced me and shaped me to the person that I am today. I consider myself lucky to be surrounded by such good, loving people who shower me with an array of hope as I fight through the obstacles that each day throws at me. My biggest desire is to return to these friends as much, if not more, loving as they have selflessly given to me, for I believe that life is about loving and being loved, just as the most Holiest of words declare: “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing”, 1 Corinthians 13:2.

I think life is all about loving and being loved.