Fortune Cookies
The enigma—how did a Japanese invention morph into a Chinese fortune cookie—the now ubiquitous fortune cookie.
Our Chinese restaurant wasn't local. Local eateries included a luncheonette where a bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich or melted cheese sandwich sopping with butter were favorites. Then there was the man who came around the neighborhood selling Carmel dipped figs and marshmallows. My father didn't bring home containers of Chinese take out, but my mother occasionally bought a La Choy's family pack--a 34-ounce package of chop suey or chow mien.
By the time I entered college my knowledge of Chinese food expanded. I recall huge menus with choices that encouraged the diner to select one from group A and one from group B or for more money two from group A. The permutations one could spin. I loved pouring over the menu. And at the end of the meal each participant of the repast received a fortune cookie.
Who believed the fortunes? Did anyone anticipate that their financial situation would take an upward trajectory or that it was not an opportune moment to spend money ?
My friend Annie believed. She also read her horoscope and even read tea leaves. All these predictions often left her unable to move ahead because of dire consequences. Once her fortune foretold a kink in her plans, " You will receive an important letter which will alter your life path." Since Annie had decided that she wanted to study French and work at the United Nations this possible abrupt interruption into her plans caused havoc. Fortunately no unexpected letters arrived. Despite the erroneous fortune she continued to savor the end of a Chinese meal and the arrival of her fortune.
I never believed that any of the folded papers contained any truth and envisioned a circle of people creating these words out of all the possible desires we all harbor. How many times did someone at the table discover that the love of their life was getting ready to walk front stage?
But suppose you received the opportunity to stuff the cookie with a few guaranteed fortunes. It's like being offered three wishes. Fairy tales are replete with stories that don't work out. Something disappears when the wish is granted. Magic potions aren't the answer.
Who cares about previous stories. Invent new versions. Just for extra security invoke a deity. Pray.
2 Comments:
Rather than pray, when working on a campaign to elect a young senator, we stuffed thousands of "Vote for Gary ___" into the cookies before they were baked. He won several elections. But the rest, sadly, put him on the long political list of infamy.
I hadn't known of the Japanese origins. Do you eat the cookies?
The edited version: I began to write that 'the rest is history', but decided against the cliché.
I think political fame isn't the only culprit for men who stray— the hubris might need to exist in order to run for office (along with a sincere and earnest desire to serve, perhaps).
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