The Stinky Herb

I am a person of many side gigs.  

To most friends, my main side gig is being an Aikido instructor in the evening.  Everybody knows I am not available for evening engagements several days a week.

To our Aikido students, however, my side gig is being a Master Gardener Speaker.  Occasionally, for the sake of public education in horticultural science, I agree to skipping such an important matter as Aikido practice.  

This evening, I stayed home to give a Zoom gardening talk to a virtual gardening club.  This was my first time speaking to this new group.  

To grow the group, the organizer was very eager to engage the members.  One of the ideas she came up with was an "ice-breaker" segment at the begininng of the meeting.  

"Welcome, Everybody!" she greeted people.  "So, the ice breaker question today is: 'If you were to be a food crop or herb, what would you want to be and why?'"

The organizer started calling names of people on the computer screen one by one.

"I want to be a basil because it smells good and it goes with everything.  It makes any dish tastes better."

"Yeah, I want to be a basil, too.  It is so easy to grow and I love its taste in food.  It really goes with everything."

"I want to be a rosemary.  It smells really zesty and refreshing.  It is so versatile.  You can make tea or cook with it."

"I love potatoes.  It is my favorite food.  It is almost impossible to make potato taste bad.  That's why when my wife calls me a couch potato, I don't feel so bad at all."

"My name is Lily.  So, I am a lily already.  But if I may choose, I think I'd rather be a peony.  Peonies are so beautiful and fragrant.  They come in so many colors and they all look lovely.  Even though their blooms last only for a few days every year, they are my favorite flowers."

"I agree.  I love peonies, too.  They are deer-proof for my garden."

"I want to be Thai basil.  Basil is nice, but Thai basil has a distinct fragrance that makes it stand out more.  It gives dishes a big punch of flavor.  I love it!"

Then, it was my turn.

"I think I would like to be a rue plant.  Rue has some unusual shaped foliage that is hazy, bluish green in color.  Its small yellow flowers are quite pretty, too.  Rue is a powerful herb: if someone has a nosebleed, you can crush some rue and stick it into the nostril.  Almost instantly, the bleeding will stop.  Although the plant is considered poisonous, rue is actually edible.  One of my favorite Chinese dessert is mung bean soup with rue.  The combo is very good for detoxing and wicking summer heat from the body.  Curiously, the Chinese name for this plant is "Stinky Herb".  I don't find it stinky at all.  In fact, it is quite the contrary.  

To me, rue is a great example of:  It really doesn't matter what name people call you, you are still just as beautiful and powerful.  Those who appreciate you will continue to like you and embrace you for who you are."

People went very quiet.  

Hmm.  

"Do they know what plant I am talking about?"  I couldn't help wondering.  

About fifteen seconds later, someone went, "Awww . . . "

Suddenly, I realized that explained why my life turned out the way it did.