Rice In My Tummy

It can be said there is a price to pay for every grand adventure. From financial to spiritual, and even social aspects the Universe demands balance. Some people refer to this as a time of testing, seeing if the recipient is worthy of the blessing. Others call it "trials and tribulations" in reference to inevitable suffering. I call it "Ramen Noodle Days."

I could act like everything is going great, and in some ways that's true. But I have run out of savings, and the paperwork being processed to get my license so I can start work is agonizingly slow to complete. The process dragged out two months past my budget, and now it is a game of survival.

I have known several Ramen phases throughout my life. Because Ramen is one of the cheapest universal foods that I know of, and can be prepared with hot water and no need of cooking facilities. These are the times when I am down to my last dollars and scraping by to survive-- Promising my landlord that as soon as I get my first paycheck I will catch up on rent, and in the meantime staying home as much as possible to save money. (One would think that you could lose weight on the Ramen diet, but it hasn't yielded dramatic results so far.)

This isn't as bad as I have seen life. Once, many years ago while waiting for my first paycheck in San Francisco, I lived for two weeks on the chips and salsa diet. I would buy coffee at a Mexican restaurant and wait in the bar for my "friend" eating the free chips and salsa. I DID lose weight on that diet! There were three restaurants I rotated between, and thanks to them I survived until payday. I know, it isn't very honest. But I was really that desperate.

I don't mind this time of sacrifice, because I have a great new job starting soon. And soon there will be payday, and I can live like a normal person again. Until then, Ramen Noodle Days keeps me humble and reminds me of my many blessings. Like today I had a surprise gift from a sympathetic relative. It was enough to help me survive for another couple of weeks, and to celebrate I went to my favorite little cafe and splurged $5.50 for a large prawns fried rice and hot tea dinner. It was heavenly! Then I bought two bananas and plain yogurts for tomorrow. (another $2) I feel so rich and decadent!!

When was the last time that all it took to bring you complete happiness, was a little rice in your tummy?

Coming soon: A self published version of my book, LONGSHOT will be available for purchase. Thanks to the ideas and support of family and friends, I have decided to bypass the publishing industry and cut out the middle man! LOL

Details to follow--

Love from Dubai,

Aleta