Thursday, September 6, 2007

Essay 1: Food Narrative

The Almighty Grape

Sarah R.




If you are what you eat then I am a grape. The grape is a daunting piece of fruit, filled with many wonders. While it may appear to be a small, scrawny fruit, its impact on the world is much bigger. As I hold and ponder its value, I begin to realize my own self worth. I, like the grape, may not be a superhero, but I am in many ways a hero at heart: loyalty and trust being my top values.

If you take a deeper look into the grape you will see all the amazing roles it has played from religion to royal class in history. I look at a grape and see back to Egyptian times when Pharos were fanned and fed. I see it as a fruit of royal value. I see myself being spoiled like a princess, my family catering to my needs and ensuring that I am well taken care of. While they try to meet to all my demands they do not allow me to overturn their authority or overstep boundaries.

The grape was the first plant to be domesticated by man. Its journey to America was certainly no picnic. After arriving grapes died off due to harsh climate, but our ancestors did not give up. They worked hard and found that grapes grew much better on the Western coast and near the New England states. As an adolescent I was a hardheaded child, always wanting to go out on my own. My parents did all they could to guide me in the right direction, but just like the grape, I sometimes manage to slip from their grip and roll out of sight. Just like the fight to keep grapes in America, my parents fought to raise me to become a young lady with dreams, goals, wisdom, self-respect, and integrity.

Jesus used grapes during the last supper, not in its original form, but as wine. Catholics have taken on this tradition of serving wine during mass. Just as something can be a blessing it can quickly become a curse. Wine can cause people to lose control of their values and become filled with wickedness. But it can also be recognition of a special celebration i.e. a wedding.

Jelly and juice are others forms of grapes, sweet satisfying treats in life. Jelly is giggly and slick like a fragile part of the human body, the heart. The heart takes on so many emotions of sorrow and your head allows you to cope with the healing process of broken hearts and wise decision-making, just like the juice washing away the aftertaste of the jelly.

However, grapes in their original, true state can be quite different from each bunch also. Squishy grapes are often sour; firm red grapes tend to be sweet; and green grapes can be a surprising sour taste at first, but then quickly the nectar becomes sweet as it slides down your throat. While grapes can be full in color a representation of strength, they can vary from vine to vine, for some become a weakness. The firm red grapes are often the sweetest, showing life’s satisfactions and achievements. Grapes like humans do have low points even when everything looks great on the outside. The all mighty green grape shows a strong zest for life, which I also have. Then you have the grapes that fall from the vine before you pluck them, showing there strong-will to be independent.

Grapes can be deceitful, like a politician. Politicians promise one thing and do another; grapes can look sweet and delicious yet, be sour and vice versa. Government can get you happy thinking that some tax break or new amendment is going to help the poor, when actuality it is only a scam to keep the rich richer. Wine can produce an effect on your mind that it will take your worries away, but when it wears off your problems are still there. Government’s welfare programs do more harm then good in some cases. This never-ending cycle of living off the government is a hard one to break once started. Welfare mother’s become addicted to not having to work, the idea of continuing to “pop” out babies and receive a check for them can become quite appealing.

Yet as I reach into the refrigerator and grab a handful of grapes, religion, royalty, history, and politics become irrelevant. From the moment my hand reaches into the bag and pops the grape in my mouth, my only concern is for the taste of that little sweet fruit. Just as in life you “do not live life worried about tomorrow for tomorrow may never come.” Instead live for the moment and freedom of life today, live like “you were dying”, taking nothing that comes into your life for granted. My name is Sarah and like a grape, I am a strong-hearted, sensible young woman. Who sees the potential I have to offer this world and does what it takes to give my all. I know no boundaries and do not allow obstacles to overcome me.



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