Text 23942, 94 rader
Skriven 2007-12-10 00:18:14 av Dale Shipp (1:261/1466.0)
Ärende: Picnic History 3/3
==========================
MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.05
 
      Title: How We Got The Durian For 94 Picnic
 Categories: Info, Durian, Picnic
      Yield: 4 servings
 
      1 ea Story
 
  [This is a letter that we got from Dorothy Hair telling us how she
  got the durian that we took to the Cooking Echo picnic held at Colts
  Neck, NJ in 1994.   She gave us permission to post the story for the
  members of the echo to read.
                          Dale & Gail Shipp
  ]
  
  Thanks for the letter.  I sure hope the picnic is GREAT fun.  From
  all that I have been reading about durians, I think if I were able
  to be with you folks, I'd definitely want to taste it.  Is it
  improper picnic etiquette to hold one's nose while eating?
  
  Stephen certainly has a fine, strong spirit.  I think he must have
  chosen me to get the durian because I probably live within
  walking (hiking)  distance to where he had his home.  I was driven
  by someone, that's for sure.  It was a little difficult to explain
  why I was looking so hard for a fruit that I would never taste, to
  send to people I've never met, to take to a picnic that I wouldn't
  attend, in honor of a man that I never knew.  Go figure!  All this
  _and_ for a fruit that hurt and indented my skin!  To say nothing
  about it's smell.
  
  The night that Rey (my assistant) called to tell me that he
  located the durian in a China Town market I was really excited.
  Even more so, when Rey placed the large _sealed_ bundle on my desk
  and I knew the treasure hunt was won!  I toyed with leaving it in
  the office but decided the janitor might have his way with the
  durian and we'd have to start the search all over.
  
  There I was briefcase in one arm, durian in the other, typical
  banker lady commuting home from work. Not!  Well, my biggest worry
  was that somehow the smell would seep out and I would be thrown
  off the Bart train and not be able to get home with it. However,
  there was really only a "tiny" aroma that I could detect.
  
  Gnats! I trekked to the Bart subway to learn that there were no more
  direct trains to Hayward. I and hoards of others, had to pack into
  the train to Richmond and transfer in Oakland.  Color the
  picture: crowded train, annoyed tired commuters, nowhere to sit,
  and one durian. I'm sure you've got it.
  We rode under the bay and surfaced in West Oakland.  The stench
  was sweet, ripe and wet. Because of the packed train there was no
  way that packages could be held free of body heat and I just knew
  soon everyone would be yelling at me "GET THAT WOMAN OFF THE TRAIN".
  Would I ever be able to wear this suit again?
  No one said anything. Whew...
  The next stop the smell seemed to dissipate.  <Hitting head with
  palm of hand> West Oakland ALWAYS smells like that!!!!  The city
  dump and the prevailing winds perfume that area most of the time.
  With a smile, I thought Oakland is durian-country and I never knew
  that before. <BEG>  Travelling a bit further on the train, my
  transfer point finally was reached.  I switched trains after
  waiting only a short stop and was on my way south to Hayward with
  the prize.  Oh no! we're still underground...on a different
  train... away from the dump.... and I can still smell Oakland
  West.  oops...  excuse me, please. :-+
  
  My animals (all four of them) took notice of "THE PACKAGE".  I
  thought that I would just send it off without a peek, but I hadn't
  had a "first in a life-time" experience for ages.  (hell to get
  old, huh?)  The unveiling took place on the deck, far side from
  the house, with 2 dogs, 2 cats, noses a-twitching, and one husband
  and I bearing witness to this event.  It looked like its picture
  but I wasn't quite ready for the sharpness of its spikes.
  Wouldn't a ripe one be a hoot as a whoopee cushion?
  
  I decided to ship it to you in the Vidalia Onion box because I
  figured if it began to smell through its wrapping the shipper
  would just think the onions were rotten and would try to move it
  on to you _really_ fast.  hehhe
  
  Well, have a wonderful picnic and happy durian times!  I expect to
  see pictures of you eating the durian, Gail and Dale.
  
  Dorothy
  
  From: Dorothy Hair                    Date: 07-22-94
 
MMMMM


... Shipwrecked on Hesperus in Columbia, Maryland. 00:19:50, 10 Dec 2007
___ Blue Wave/DOS v2.30

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