Isn’t it strange how little things that happen can be connected with dots as if they were all part of the same story with the same message needing to be heard. I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason and often provide little lessons for life.
One day last week I had been chatting with my sister who wisely said,
“It’s important to get out and about every now and then, to stay involved and, whenever possible, to participate in activities. Be engaged and a part of the community.”
I thought long and hard about that sage advice. She was absolutely right. When you aren’t part of people’s lives, slowly but surely, you slip from their day to day thoughts. Oh, there may be fleeting moments when you will cross their minds but it will come from a distant memory and then fade quickly.
The winter had been a long one with many days curled up by the fire with a good book. It had been wonderful but today I decided I’d better get out and about before I was the one lost in a fading memory. Enough was enough! Besides, I was slowly seizing up – mind, body and soul.
But I am getting ahead of myself. My day had actually started with Pigeon Peas. Surely your day started the same way!
I had been gifted half a bag of these things (another sister, of course). They had experimented, using them as a substitute for regular yellow split peas, the key ingredient for good, old-fashioned, peas soup. It failed miserably. The taste was completely different.
Until that morning, I had never heard tell of Pigeon Peas and I was skeptical. Doesn’t the very name just throw you off? Exactly what do the pigeons have to do with it, I wondered. The images conjured up by a vivid imagination made me cringe.
A bit of research went a long way to straighten things out. In the end, I decided to be brave and give them a try. I settled on a new recipe, Jamaican Pigeon Peas and Rice. It was delicious – not just because of the peas, mind you. I think it was the nutty flavour combined with the Jamaican seasonings.
Truth be told, the morning had proven to be a productive one and I felt quite pleased with the outcomes – trying something new; living on the edge. Pigeon Peas – imagine!
It would have been so easy to just sit back with that book and, in solitude, slip between the pages of another story. But I was energized. It was time to get out, to participate, to do a little living. Calls went out to several friends to see who was game for an outting. No luck! Everyone was busy so I decided to go it alone – to just twack around, leisurely pass away a few hours at the museum or library, find a nice restaurant and treat myself to a meal. It would be so cool.
Several hours later, tired and ready to eat, I sauntered into the restaurant and found a cozy corner where I could sit with my back to the wall – a habit of mine when I am alone for I love to ‘people watch’. I had a clear view of the other patrons and it allowed me to watch and listen without being obtrusive. There were several tables just waiting to be filled when I noticed a middle-aged man enter and walk to his table. He wore old faded jeans, plaid shirt and a leather vest. His coat, which had seen a few winters, was slung over one arm and he carried a paperback. When he sat, it looked like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.
I listened to the chatter coming from the various tables surrounding me. There were two elderly couples discussing their visit to town and the dangers of the VISA tap – how they’d inadvertently paid twice for the same purchase. They turned and asked if that had ever happened to me. Another young woman and her daughter were enjoying a good laugh as they finished their meal. It was delightful to watch and I wondered what they found so funny.
Just ahead of me sat the man in the leather vest. He finished his meal and pushed the plate aside to continue reading. Then he slowly closed the book and just sat there. I noticed he was speaking. There was no one nearby and he didn’t have a phone. It wasn’t my intent to evesdrop but it was impossible not to hear his words.
I sat and listened as he spoke quietly to no one in particular.
“I wonder if I have become invisible.”
There was an aura of sadness around him and I could sense the loneliness. His voice was one of defeat. Now, no more than a fleeting thought in the minds of all who had once been part of his life, he was like the mist that had slipped through the grains of sand.
My sister’s words echoed inside my head. I stopped by his table to say hello, to speak of the sunshine and offer him a smile.
Later I visited a friend to tell them about Jamaican Pigeon Peas and Rice!
The recipe is on website in case you want to give it a try: https://aboutlittlethings.com/jamaican-pigeon-peas-and-rice/
Source: Florida Heritage Foods Project
https://floridaheritagefoods.com/
Pigeon peas have been grown as food for people and animals for thousands of years. They are consumed dried, green and ground into a flour.
Many cuisines in Asia and Africa combine pigeon pea with a cereal such as corn or rice because the pea adds a significant amount of nutrients to a high-carbohydrate cereal dish. diets. Dried peas can be sprouted prior to cooking to change the taste, and sprouting increases the digestibility of dried pigeon peas. In Swahili-speaking region of East Africa such as Kenya, pigeon peas are made into a coconut curry called bharazi and served with donuts for breakfast in dishes such as mbaazi na mahamri. In Ethiopia, the young shoots and leaves are also cooked and eaten with the peas. In Nigeria the Igbo dish, Achịcha, combines pigeon peas with cocoyam and palm oil.
Pigeon peas are also an important source of fodder and animal feed. The American English name ‘Pigeon Pea’ stems from the historical use of the peas as fodder for pigeons in the Caribbean.
As usual my dear sister /friend your writings about the “. Little things” arrive just when they are most needed. Agree it’s so much easier to curl up alone with a good book or TV show but it’s not time yet to become just a memory for those who’ve been part of your wonderful life memories over the years. Thanks again for the motivation and inspiration!!
Love you story’s . Enjoy your day , see you on your next visit to Mabel’s. ❤️
A great story as usual!! But I’m not sure I’ll be looking for Pigeon peas yet- maybe stick with the yellow split peas. lol. Keep your wonderful stories coming!!
Awe 🫢 the little things! Beulah, you could turn a paper bag into a story all on its own! Wow! I have never heard of pigeon peas, & I’m thinking I will pass on that thought, although I dearly love yellow peas, soup, & peas puddings etc.
I love the thought of us not being invisible, & I especially like the let’s get out of here & mingle somewhere!
You never know what interesting things one might find! Loved your story ❤️
Love your story on the little things. But the thought of putting pigeon peas in pea soup is not me. Keep writing your beautiful stories I love reading. ❤️
Great story good to see you are getting out we miss you but love your stories but you do keep in contact through your stories ….Ruby & Mike
I like that you make us think not just about little things but also of what a wonderful world we have to enjoy. You have a pretty smart sister lol …. It’s a beautiful quote and one to contemplate and take a step outside our own little world.
Keep writing but it’s interesting to note that we do have pigeon peas …….???
Reading your stories always takes me back to the many wonderful, non-sensical (to most), yet meaningful conversations, I have been blessed to have with you. I love that even though I’m reading your words, not listening to them, I still feel like we’re having a conversation (if you could have seen my face when talking about pigeon peas …. 🤦♀️). Coming this way soon? 🤞
Your Sister or Sisters have your future in mind, having your back to the wall reminds me of Wyatt Earp, he always had his back to the Wall when ever he entered a Bar. All the Best and enjoyed your message.
Once again you have written a beautiful life story with a meaningful message. It is easy to become invisible and sink into the comforts of home as I sometimes find myself. I am making a point of intertwining with those around me and trying new things, I will have to look for pigeon peas, never heard of them!
Thank you for sharing!
Beulah,
I think there is a lot of loneliness and people looking for connection in the world right now. I don’t reach out often but when I see your e-mail land in my inbox it always makes me smile and I often save the reading for a quiet moment with a good coffee (which always makes me think of you!). Thank you for being you and continuing to share and connect.
Happy Tuesday; snow day, Sheila’s brush, or whatever this blasted weather is….
Vanessa