Page 2 - MidWeek - May 11, 2022

2 MIDWEEK MAY 11, 2022
Yes, that most basic yet vital food staple, cherished by many as one of the four major food groups along with Fruity Pebbles, Cap’n Crunch and Cocoa Puffs (allegedly Hawai‘i’s favorite cereal), is being doubled-checked by authorities af- ter more than 450 cases were reported about folks feeling ill soon after eating the sweet morsels. So much for being “lucky”... or charms.
Now approaching the air- strip, I saw a 5-foot square wooden crate. The books! My elation was short-lived, for the commander, mistrust- ing my claim about the crate’s contents, arrested and placed me in a holding cell while he sought guidance from head- quarters. Unbeknownst to me
cy against north Sudan, and the crate was just the sort that could hold rifles, small arms and grenades.
Reports with details are available at iwaspoisoned.com, an actual website that aggregates comments when people report eating something that made them feel yucky, and that site is now populated with marshmallow-y tales of physically off-putting symptoms noted after eating the marbits (yes, a word concocted when the cereal was created back in 1964, by combining “marshmallow” and “bits”).
Surfing on O‘ahu’s North Shore, I had long ago learned that the seeming threat of a towering wave could be an opportunity. And honoring Hawai‘i’s culture helped me engage with the Ethiopian culture. The pounding of my heart now echoed the pound- ing of waves, and I sensed an opportunity in my cell. I was not badly treated. I be- gan to laugh with the guards,
Now, there’s nothing funny about foodborne illnesses, of course. But seeing that the alleged culprit here is not poorly washed lettuce or spinach, undercooked chicken, raw eggs, bacteria-laden sprouts or tainted seafood — but rather a dry cereal made from oats, cornstarch, corn syrup, dextrose, etc. — is rather bizarre.
at that time, armaments were being smuggled to southern Sudan across Ethiopia’s bor- der in support of the insurgen-
I know it’s been a tough, debilitating and weird couple of years, but did you ever think you’d hear about Lucky Charms being a possible health hazard? Again, the jury is still out, but this revelation reminded me that occasionally we all crave food that’s simply enjoyable and fun. One can only consume so many cruciferous veggies, after all. In mod- eration, sometimes you gotta eat for your mental health, like when pounding down that extra-large bag of butter-laden popcorn and mochi crunch at a movie, or munching massive malasadas, or scarfing down tri-colored shave ice.
SPEED BUMP by Dave Coverly
Pounding Wave, Pounding Heart
NIot So Lucky
The military com- mander and armed soldiers demanded that I come with them. They did not speak while march- ing me to the airstrip in Gore, Ethiopia. As a 22-year-old Peace Corps volunteer, my heart pounded with every step. Would my teaching assignment end even before my first project began?
t’s been almost a month since we first learned of re- ported illnesses. Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting — well- known unpleasantries that should never be an integral
the oneness of humankind tempers perceptions of threat from different cultures, and rather than causing retreat, waves of fear spur me to reach out and grow beyond any prison cell of wariness.
For over 30 years, Ash Hartwell has promoted education in Afghanistan, Pakistan and several Afri- can countries. As a member of the Baha’ i Faith, which teaches that service to others is a form of worship, he has grown to believe in the in- nate human love and capac- ity for learning and playing, principles he seeks to apply in reforming education.
Chasing The Light is pro- duced by Lynne Johnson and Robin Stephens Rohr.
part of one’s diet plans. The alleged culprit? Hang on now ... Lucky Charms.
Because of few texts or other books, I had proposed establishing a school library. The Peace Corps agreed to airship donated books, but weeks had passed with none in sight.
While being held captive in Ethiopia, the author learned that belief in the oneness of humankind tempers perceptions of threat from different cultures. PHOTO COURTESY ASH HARTWELL
and speaking daily with the commander improved my understanding of Amharic. When a cable finally con- firmed my identity and the crate’s legitimacy, our sec- ond walk to the airfield be- came celebratory — joined by the school’s head, teach- ers, even students. A smil- ing commander handed me a crowbar to open the crate, and everyone cheered the new school library!
New Century Schoolbook bold (scaled H 73.6)
The ocean’s lessons still influence my learning, teach- ing and research. Belief in
with Ash Hartwell
We understand empirical advice to avoid overdoing it with sugar, salt, alcohol, fat, trans fats, red meat, fried and pro- cessed foods, white rice, artificial additives, soda ... the list seems endless. Yes, sometimes you just gotta have whatever you prescribe as food for your soul. We know people didn’t pile on that so-called “COVID-19,” as in pounds gained, by noshing on kale, broccoli and almonds, but sometimes, just sometimes, you gotta have it. And that’s what makes this mysterious Lucky Charms scenario so potentially unappe- tizing — like a soggy bowl of, well, you know what.
Think about it ...
john@thinkaboutithawaii.com