🇺🇸 America’s Love Affair with Lard 🐖
Lard — rendered pork fat — once defined the American kitchen. Rich, versatile, and ideal for frying or baking, it flavored generations of meals. Today, vegetable oils dominate, but lard remains a symbol of tradition and nostalgia, a reminder of America’s culinary roots.
Scott L. drives for Uber for the flexibility. The pay is decent, the hours adjustable, and every ride becomes a story.
One night, Gary hops in — slightly drunk, a former bartender of 25 years. Conversation flows. His family farm has over 200 chickens. Roosters, he explains, are aggressive, gamey, and rarely eaten; hens are docile and preferred. Scott listens, fascinated by both the facts and the interplay of personalities — lessons on life delivered from the backseat of a car.
Other passengers add intrigue. In Baltimore and D.C., the streets are alive with stunning, vibrant people. Sometimes flirtatious, sometimes teasing, they test the energy of the ride. One young woman, lightly intoxicated on high-end vodka, laughs at Scott’s stories, hinting at possibilities. Another casually suggests a “friend with benefits,” leaving Scott navigating the tension, curious but discreet.
A quiet inner voice asks, Self, what can you do to make it better? It’s a prompt that motivates him to act: write more, create more, and take on responsibilities — like welcoming Carlos, the stray cat, into his home.
Scott’s life balances blessings with duties. Uber gives him time to volunteer at church, attend services, and train in online streaming with Tracy. He mows the church lawn for free, helps his non-English-speaking parents manage letters and prescriptions, and manages chronic back pain from two prior surgeries. E-scooters, bicycles, and handheld massagers become tools for therapy — ways to move and heal.
Even small blessings stand out. A lost phone leads to $20 and a quick dinner pickup for his wife. These effortless moments — grace in motion — color his everyday life.
Creativity drives him. Scott built www.eastwindpoems.site, launching it on October 1st. With 523 unique visitors, 983 total visits, and 33 unique views from France.
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