Onions
My knife never sings but hums instead when withdrawn from its block, a metallic whisper so modest only the wielder may hear it. Or perhaps the dog, who seems to enjoy the kitchen nearly as much as I. A Japanese blade, it’s a joy to hold, perfectly balanced, stainless steel-molybdenum alloy, blade and handle of one piece, bright, untarnished, and so sharp as to slide through, rather than awkwardly rupture and divide, its next task on the board.
We’ve never counted the chopped and rendered onions, the fine dice, slender rings and discarded skins, but if we could gather all the corpses we’ve produced together over the years, we’d form a monument to our work, cooperation of metal and man, a Waterloo mound in memory of the bulbs laid there, the planning involved, the missteps and serendipity, and the tears shed along the way.
The blade doesn’t care. It is. It works. It moves things, it lifts, it parts them, and in return is cleansed, and later, in the quiet room, maintains its edge with a silvery rasp, angled steel on steel in a circular motion, over and over, until finally it hums its way back into the block. But it never sings.
“Onions” last appeared here in December 2019. Hmm. This reminds me (again) that I need to sharpen knives…
Alas, my bout with COVID-19 has rendered me incapable of, or unwilling to, cut into onions. Parosmia has reared its ugly head, and now onions, garlic, bacon, peppers, arugula and hoppy ales among other beloved foods emit odors resembling a mix of raw sewage, mildewed peat moss and burnt wood. Ah, 2020!
O at the Edges 
Oh my goodness, sorry to hear about the Covid19. Hope your smell senses return to normal soon…these are foods you cannot be without. Take care.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s been an ever-shifting landscape, but there have been signs of improvement recently, some four months into the strange universe of parosmia.
LikeLike
Yikes, Bob! I ditto Margaret Lear. You sent me googling with “parosmia” – I had no idea it lingered afterward nor that such a huge number of people suffered from it! And you being a god of the kitchen – ouch!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Both of us have been affected, with much overlap as far as foods go. Peanut butter is anathema to us. Chocolate bothers Steph, but not me. Sparkling wine makes us gag, but red wine is fine. Crazy. At least most sweets are okay. Ha! A mixed blessing, I suppose. I do miss my peppers and onions!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I bet you do! Glad you can both still drink wine!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Cognac is good, as are margaritas! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
A particularly unjust punishment. (K)
LikeLiked by 1 person
The onions are still winning, but someday… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is the very apex of adding insult to injury… I try to take a scientific interest in the discoveries of what this virus can do (for however long) but… that’s pretty short-lived compared to my anger. I will however express relief that some precious pleasures remain inviolable for you both!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I want to scream when someone says COVID-19 is “just like the flu.” It’s now been seven months since my “recovery.” And we won’t mention the racing heart, etc. But yes, Stephanie and I count ourselves among the fortunate. Life is good, even during these strange times!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yikes! Sorry to hear you had Covid! I hope your senses of smell and taste return soon. No fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Betty. Like many others, I thought I was fully recovered. But three months after my symptoms had abated, the parosmia began. It’s lasted for four months thus far, but has improved a tad. Baby steps. Sigh.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Alas, it does seem to be “normal” for the virus.
(I had a “likely” case of Covid last May and my taste buds and nose are just now starting to improve. Am still having to add extra salt to everything. Sweet things taste normal….) Hope we all get back to enjoying the taste of our meals soon! Yes, baby steps.Take good care, Robert.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Betty. Let’s hope for a return to normalcy for all of us!
LikeLiked by 1 person
May your ability to smell and taste return soon, Robert!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Susi. We’ve both noticed incremental improvements, so I remain optimistic. I do miss bacon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh, good! Yes, may it continue to get better!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m confident that it will, but we just don’t know when. Someday!
LikeLiked by 1 person
🙂
LikeLike