Creative Connections by Sara Aeikens

Wandering around our community on a daily basis looks like it could be retirement.

I fantasized it might be fun to record some of my favorite daily stops and regular purchases, so as to track a few of my frequent addictions.

Starting out with food fetishes, I love red raspberry organic popsicles.

I am only able to find them at Wintergreen Natural Foods, and they even have seeds in them that might get stuck in your teeth. I also enjoy the store’s black licorice and the yellow (not orange) cheese puffs that don’t turn your fingers a bright color.

Including almonds, cashews, non-sulfured dried apricots and date crystals we use in our household as a sugar substitute, there are many excellent reasons I am grateful Wintergreen Natural Foods last month decided to continue serving our community as a cooperative beyond its present 39 years. The support of a younger generation interested in natural food products tops the list.

If I really have a hankering for puffy pastries, I’ll drive north on Bridge Street to Arby’s to purchase a pastry turnover filled with chunks of dark chocolate and drizzled with more chocolate all over the top for only a dollar. I first found out about this yummy puff pastry on a trip to Germany. I sometimes make a special trip on weekends to Marketplace on West Main, just for their elephant ears; some call the circular sweet pastries crispies.

During a recent visit to Marketplace of Albert Lea, I noticed three clear, plastic-covered flower bouquets sticking upside down out of a wastebasket in the store’s former flower section near the checkout counter’s outer edge. At that moment, the new store manager happened to pass by, pushing a cart stacked high with rolls of toilet paper.

I jokingly asked him if I could use my artistic abilities to create one lovely arrangement from the best of the throwaway blooms. His immediate “of course” reply, plus a smile, didn’t surprise me much since as manager his helpfulness sometimes saves me steps.

Yes, I pulled off bunches of droopy and dog-eared flowers and greenery and found myself left with one perfect bouquet of carnations, ferns, buds and miniature feathered flowers. I thought this unique creation fit for congratulations to the newly energized Wintergreen staff, who support all kinds of recycling.

Seems like on the same day, I stopped at Taco Bell for my favorite hard-shell corn taco with avocado and sour cream.  The woman manager became a friend when her home, just across the street from us, burned down and neighbors helped her out in various ways.  She now has a young son and, of course, showed me a photo of him in his bright green, floppy-footed frog Halloween costume.  I just happened to have in my car’s back window a matching green frog plush toy almost half the size of her son. Mom’s delight at the coincidence resulted in a few shared chuckles and a fun green gift for her son.

During our last summer season, I discovered the Cuban restaurant on Clark Street next to an office where I meditate with several others  on a weekly basis. Peace Corps memories from over a half century ago arise when I munch on a half-circle pastry empanada filled with coconut. It is an incredible-tasting tidbit. I also find the dessert custard the owners call flan a favorite. My most cherished excuse for frequenting this friendly cafe could be because I am allowed to practice my Spanish with the servers, and I believe they actually understand me.

So, those of you who ask in amazement why I work several hours a week at the Pizza Ranch may have a better idea after reading this Creative Connections column. I bus dishes, blow up balloons and inspire people to laugh as I attempt to match a colorful balloon with their outfits. Along with my buffoonery, I also enjoy the buffet.

 

Sara Aeikens is an Albert Lea resident.