Re: [CH] Non-CH SOs
Assembly (Assembly1@btinternet.com)
Sat, 18 Dec 1999 17:12:55 +0000
Hi all,
Jeff said:
>The only annoying thing about having a non-CH spouse is the glow of
>satisfaction on their faces when you've consumed something one step past
>your tolerance level. Once the "danger" has passed, that smug grin they
>adopt will strain any relationship. (Just kidding)
One of my CH pals and I had such an experience some years ago when I was
living in California and he and his non-CH SO came over from England on
vacation. We went to my regular Thai restaurant where I had been able to
get good spicy meals by ordering them "hot". That day the regular staff was
missing - the waitress was just a child. My CH pal and I ordered things hot
and his non-CH SO ordered some Chinese-influenced stir fries, making it very
clear that she wanted no chiles. Turns out that the regular owners and
extended family were out catering a wedding and we were being taken care of
by Grandma and the kids. Grandma obviously thought we meant hot for Thais,
not hot for Yanks and Brits. Barrie and I were in deep pain, especially
from a duck curry. Barrie's girlfriend Agnes, on the other hand, had a
beautifully prepared non-hot stir-fry and was smugly pleased with our
distress. It took me days to get through the doggie bag of duck curry,
taking little flakes of duck in large quantities of rice. It was good,
though.
These tales of compromise and understanding like Larry and Jeff, and Jim's
patience in waiting for his SO to work into chiles are heartwarming (if only
warming through condiments). Thanks for the information - I only wish my CH
friends had had such luck with their spice.
Cheers,
Virginia