Happy Squid Day!
For so many years I have been craving for grilled squid. I never thought God would grant me that wish. I know most of you would wonder why savoring a grilled squid matters to me.
Finally, Joy bought a piece of grilled squid! It costs Php 50.00 per stick/ per piece. It’s by the size of a length of a finger of a hand. It's a bit small but it's better than nothing at all.
It brought me back to my teen days - i was in college then – I remember that late afternoon Daddy brought me to the sidewalks fronting the Kowloon House/siopao store at West Avenue. There was a vendor there by the sidewalk of the street selling grilled squids slowly cooked on a grill with a charcoal fire. It was a blockbuster since there was a crowd of buyers going gaga over buying the grilled squids. He sells grilled squids in three sizes - regular, medium, and large sizes. You can only see the heads of the squids on barbecue/bamboo sticks displayed out of one end of the aluminum foil with which each is wrapped.
Dad buys one of these grilled large squids stuffed with marinated onions and tomatoes, wrapped in aluminum foil oozing with its marinade sauce made up of soy sauce, vinegar, onions, ground pepper & sugar. The meat of the squid is so soft, with an explosion of flavor in your mouth that consists of a mixture of sweetness, very mild saltiness, or umami, and spices. I love placing the oozing marinade sauce left on the aluminum foil on top of my steaming hot rice. Yummy!!! Dad only buys one large piece because it is expensive. I think it costs Php 250 per piece.
Though the squid Joy bought is around one-third the size of the squid Dad used to buy, I'm happy she bought one!
It tasted salty because of too much soy sauce. The stuffed tomatoes and onions in the squid didn't have any taste. Sadly, the vendor wasn't able to make the squids as yummy as the ones famously sold years ago.
It may not taste as yummy and delicious as Dad's favorite squid; still, I'm glad and thankful to God that He provided means for Joy to be able to buy me one!
As I took a tiny, mini bite of the grilled squid, it brings back beautiful memories of our family's golden years. Those are the days of plentiful. Our dining tables are often overflowing with delicious food. So many, you would feel full and satisfied just by looking at them. Friends and strangers are all welcome to eat to their heart's content. Yes! I've watched my parents feed people they never knew or met before. These are the strangers who come to our house knowing how generous and kind my parents are, they invite themselves into our house and enjoy themselves as if they were the special guests of the party. Different people mostly from the poverty-stricken communities who are complete strangers to us would also come to our house when they are in dire need. These people, who after hearing or knowing about my parent's kind deeds to the countless people they have helped in so many ways, believed that they, too, will receive the same selfless acts of kindness just as those people did. True enough. Mom and Dad always provided them the financial assistance or whatever help they need.
8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
9 As it is written:“They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor; their righteousness endures forever.”[a]10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Now you know why a grilled squid means a lot to me. Enjoying a bite of it simply brings me back to those years of cherished, happy times in our lives.
So, happy squid day!!!
God be praised and glorified! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!