Rudolf’s Diner

Last night I made my wife and kids chicken soup
I do this about once a week
Never the same as before
Never a recipe
Adding different starches to the aromatic browned onion-garlic broth
Sometimes noodles
Sometimes freshly cooked brown rice
Sometime old left-over take out
Toss in some just-cut chard from the backyard garden
Chard that was planted last fall and proudly pushed on through dark winter storms
And they love it
I love them
Sometimes it is just gobbled down with little notice
Sustaining life – pure and simple
Sometimes it is almost ritual
Consumed with wine and candles
Regardless, it makes us warm inside
And makes me wonder at times
What is happening, at that very moment, in another part of the world, or under an overpass, or in prison in Port-au-Prince
And then, the fleeting wonder passes and I return to the smile of my son and daughter and wife

And know for the grace of god

©Thomas S. Geiger, 2008

Thomas lives in Seattle with his wonderful wife Aiko and their children Isaiah and Naomi. Since his youth in northern NH and all the travels since, he has been involved in taking action for a better world – on issues of peace, environment, race and international relations. Schaefer-geiger@msn.com