6.28.2011

Espresso Rocket Shake

Once upon a time, you might have reached into a dusty box in the garage and uncovered some trinkets and personal belonging that meant something to you one day.  It might have been a handwritten letter from a relative, a photo of you and some classmates, a ticket stub, a small gift someone gave you.  There were some people who were acquaintances to you - a mere thread in the tapestry of your life.  But for whatever reason, they might have etched a small but permanent impression in your memory.  And then, there are people that are very close to us at some point and after building memories, our lives diverged for various reasons: differences/interests, geography, greater responsibilities/priorities, or it just happened.  Life. 

 You might look at some of these belongings and say "What ever happened to him/her?"  "I wonder what they are up to now?"  You can ask questions but you won't get answers.  It was once upon a time. What is our past remains our past.  You can't recover history. 

Until now.

For the first time, we can fold time onto itself.  We can reach into that box called Past and take something back out.  Someone who was a part of your past can be a part of your present.  But, fortunately, only if you want to. 

I reconnected with my good friend from middle school.  It had to be 20 years since Manisha and I talked.  I think one year we had almost every class together...U.S. History, Pre-algebra, Life Science, English, etc.  I don't know what triggered my memory of her, but I searched her name on facebook.  I sent her a long message saying that I regret not staying in touch with her.  I told her what I remembered about her/us.  I gave her a 10-sentence synopsis of my last 2 decades.  I omitted obvious developments that had taken place since then, such as "I got my period" and "I have crows feet around my eyes".  Hoped to hear back from her, but not expected.

Not only did we reconnect and exchange several messages on facebook, but I got to meet her in person.  Though I'm in Dallas and she's in New York, we both happened to be in the same city at the same time.  I have to admit I had a little flutter in my heart...like the feeling you might have before a date...a good one. 

And the moment we saw each other at Starbucks, it's like we never missed a beat.  I could have talked to her for hours. 

I've been very very blessed with great girlfriends, and that includes moms, sisters, and cousins too.  I have a chamber in my heart exclusively for them.  Food and drinks unite us and make our hearts swell and spill over to one another.  For me, I'm united with my girlfriends over a good Thai lunch in a sketchy location, or high tea nested in an antique shop, or a good lemon cupcake, or wine & cheese plates, or spicy potato filled dosas, or the famous Espresso Rocket Shake from Metro Coffeebar in Austin.

I ask you to reach FAAAR into your past and send them a facebook message telling them what you remember about them.  It won't take long and I bet you'll be the highlight of their week.

Cheers to reconnecting!

Espresso Rocket Shake, Re-created
Serves 2
(I don't know what the exact proportions are, but this worked for me)

This recipe is inspired by a favorite treat that my 2 best friends and I would indulge in when we were in college.  We would go to Metro Coffeebar* on Guadalupe in Austin to study.  But instead, we would stay up really late and talk, gossip, laugh, and cry.  And now we have to stay friends because we have too much dirt on each other. 
If you don't try this, you are missing out!
Metro Coffeebar is now closed.  :(

Ingredients:
1 banana, peeled and halved
6-8 oz. good quality chocolate ice cream
1/2 cup espresso

Directions:

1. Blend in a blender.
2. Taste with a spoon.
3. Adjust (with more banana, ice cream or espresso) if desired.
4. Serve.

16 comments:

  1. great post amee!!! i love you!! how come i didn't know metro closed?? that is sad. :(

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  2. absolutely loved this post! I recently did that with a friend from high school and it was an incredible feeling! I love getting an email everytime you put up a post!

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  3. Ruby - Thanks! I know - i JUST found out.
    Sonam - Thanks for reading and thanks even more for commenting! I'm glad you reconnected!

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  4. What a lovely thing to reconnect with a friend from so long ago -- I'm so happy for you! I thought when I saw the title that "rocket" meant arugula and I was ready to be very open-minded but I must say I'm a bit relieved there turned out to be none in there after all. Sounds very tasty!

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  5. What a great post. I love reconnecting with girlfriends who don't live near me any more. Months (or years) will go by, but if we're in the same city, we always make a point of getting together and catching up. It's always a good time. And your shake doesn't look too bad either. ;-D

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  6. Xiaolu - Thanks! I do LOVE arugula, but yes, not a great pairing for this. But thanks for keeping an open mind! :)

    Jennifer - Thanks for your comment! If you decide to make this, let me know what you think. Enjoy your future get togethers. I'm glad you make the effort!

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  7. I know exactly how you feel! This happened to me twice in a very short period and it was like we never missed a beat. One of them was one of my best friends in high school in Dallas. It was so great to reconnect and see that the reasons we liked them in the first place were still intact! That shake sounds incredible too.

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  8. There was this particular lazy Cousin who stayed beyond the 7 seas and we werent in touch except times when she decided to materialise before us.... which was rare. Even though email was invented by then, she wasnt content on communicating using email. But things changed when FB happened and she coaxed me into using it! WOW. Thanks for FB and your coffee.... both have added a certain amount of zezt. :)

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  9. Lentil - I'm glad you got to meet up with an old friend and I'm glad you can relate!

    Amit - Very funny! :) I wrote letters!! Hand-written letters :P

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  10. Your post brought happy tears to my eyes, as a ghost from the past just contacted me a few days ago. This was one of the first people my friend and I met when we embarked on our exchange student summer back in 1985. He was the manager of the restaurant in Colorado where we worked, and since we left that summer, we were not in contact.
    Hearing from him out of the blue brought back all those wonderful memories and gave hours of reminiscing and smiling.
    I have reconnected with several of my girlfriends from Michigan, and my life is so much richer.
    I am so happy for you and your friend (and you definitely do not have crow feet around your eyes!)

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  11. It's no wonder you have good luck with women friends, you're a doll! You just warmed my heart with the story of your reunion. I'm so happy for both of you, Amee!

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  12. Still besties with a friend I made in second grade and another three from high school days. A toast to galpals who go way back.

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  13. Great post!! Our Thai lunches are a delight:) This rocket shake looks delish..can't wait to try it.

    P.S. I can comment!!! :)

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  14. Lana - I surely didn't not mean to bring tears to my eyes, but I'm glad they were the happy kind! Thanks for sharing your story too - I'm glad it added something to your life.

    Food blogga - Thanks, Susan! Glad you got a chance to read it!!

    Sarah H - 2nd grade! That's amazing!! and 3 from HS - that's great!

    Sarah D - Thanks! I'm glad you are able to comment! just wanted to make sure you read the semi shout-out. :)

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  15. Love this post!

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  16. such a lovely story. thanks for sharing it. my closest friends are those from my childhood. so beautiful. you shake looks delicious, too! :-)

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