Wednesday

A couple of years ago, I was in a sort of international bazaar — a collection of small, mom-and-pop importers — just browsing among the varied wares. At one shop I found a pretty case for my sunglasses, embroidered by a Hmong craftswoman. And they also had…

Kitchen utensils made of bamboo.

A spatula.

Thin. Springy. Light-weight. With a broad, square business end.

Cooking was the furthest thing from my thoughts.

“I will use only my hand.”

A bamboo spatula. Sting.

I tried it on myself. Sting!

And I put it away. For a couple of years.

— Frenulum