We met when we were young. So young, and so naive we were. It is hard to say whether it was love at first sight, true love, or just an inseparable pairing of two things that were meant to be together, forever. I must admit, I do not remember the first time we met. My memory is usually spot-on with small details of my past. I remember what I wore on the first day of the fifth grade. I remember the smell of the dusty road that leads to my favorite camping spot. Yet I have trouble remembering our first encounter. It truly was so long ago, and even in the deepest chasms of my mind, you were there and always have been.
When I was a child I adored your flavor, your beauty, and your charm. Life had been kind to me, and I could be with you uninhibited. My parents could see it, and would poke fun at my enjoyment of egg rolls. Crunchy, simple, colorful. This was just the beginning of us.
As I grew older and more developed, so did my taste buds and my hunger. I recall bonding so tightly with kung pao chicken during this part of my life. I was a budding teenager, and you were still there with me. In this era, you were aromatic, spicy, and intriguing. At times, I could not keep you out of my mind. Even with as saucy and spicy as you were, you were a bit nutty as well. You made me smile whenever we were together.
When I went to college, I feel like we lost each other for a while. I was busy "finding myself," as it were, and it took me far too long before I realized that I needed to. Then my search for you began. I was in a new place with a new life. When I first found you, you were in the form of take-out. Everyone loves the take-out Chinese food. In our fast-paced college lives we look for the convenient flavors that are accessible to us, and this is what you were. Variety became the spice of life.
After a while, I realized that this variety was not quite enough for me. I needed a deeper, more sentimental connection. The take-out became a superficial way to satisfy myself, but in the morning I still felt an emptiness inside. After some soul-searching I realized what I wanted and needed. As the great Rae Sremmurd once said, "I ain't got no type." But, if I did, it would be a traditional Shanghai. The type of Shanghai that you now see in cute fusion places, where they may be a little bit Chinese with a little bit of Korean.
These days, there is so much crossover in food that we get everything everywhere. Of course, what I'm talking about is xiao long bao. Little steamy dumplings filled with meat, vegetables, and a bit of broth. Ever since I realized that I needed you like this, my mind has been a whirlwind. I have trouble sleeping. I long for you in my new life, and I know someday we will be together again.
Thank you for always being there. Thank you for understanding me and accepting me for who I am. I know you will continue to be there, and soon, we will truly be together again. I may have taken breaks and been away, but I never stopped thinking about you. If all goes well and I have a productive week, I'll see you soon.
