In 1986, my family made multiple, almost weekly, trips to the World Expo in Vancouver to visit every pavillion and take home a souvenir from each. Most of the trinkets I collected that year -- whether from the Australia, China, or Soviet Union pavillions -- eventually made their way to the garbage can or a charity bin. All but one. A small, wooden elephant no bigger than my thumbnail, made and handpainted with great care in Sri Lanka and purchased for one Canadian dollar, became the only tchotchke I’ve ever loved.
This is my only tangible connection to Sri Lanka, but my spiritual one is deeper, spanning oceans, as I watch their people grieve over the loss of 25,000 fathers, mothers, daughters, brothers, friends, playmates, and maybe even their mailmen, barbers, manicurists, and pizza deliverymen.
Now I’m hanging onto my little elephant too tightly; you’d have to knock me down to get him out of my grip.
Ate Too Many:
Chocolate truffles
Mashed potatoes
Spicy chicken wings
Ate Too Few:
Chocolate truffles
Mashed potatoes
Spicy chicken wings