"Taste and sensory immersion foster happy occasions. Happiness goes beyond satisfaction, and it must be measured through the unfolding of the unexpected, of wonder and memorable occasions."
I always document the origin of my quotes. I do it for two reasons. One is that from a research and literary standpoint it's the right thing to do. The other is so that you can explore that source for yourself if you care to know more about it. In this case I am not going to reveal this source just yet.
At first glance I thought the author had gotten the first sentence backwards. Shouldn't it read "Happy occasions foster taste and sensory immersion" ? Regarding a Christmas party, for example, wouldn't the occasion itself allow the opportunity for the taste and sensory experience? Then I read it again--"Taste and sensory immersion foster happy occasions." Ah hah !" It is those sensory experiences that make the occasion happy. We go to those parties not to just be in good company, but to enjoy the food and beverages that the host and hostess offer. Imbibing is not just an afterthought of the party, something to do while we're together, it is the main course.
But the next sentence particularly interested me, especially for the Christmas season--"Happiness goes beyond satisfaction, and it must be measured through the unfolding of the unexpected, of wonder of memorable occasions." If the story of Christmas is nothing else, it is the story of the "unfolding of the unexpected", and of "wonder." Mary never expected to become pregnant. Joseph never expected to have to deal with being an unwed father. Mary and Joseph didn't expect to need to travel to Bethlehem. They didn't expect to have nowhere to sleep, nowhere to bear her child. The didn't expect to stay in a stable, the home to the innkeeper's animals. How could they have expected their guests-- the shepherds and the wise men? How could they have expected the wise men to bring them delightful and expensive gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh? How in this world or the next could they have expected for their newborn son to be the King of Israel, the Son of God? The entire story is the story of the unexpected. A story of "wonder".
But the story of Christmas doesn't stop there, does it? This story includes the story of our stories. Our own Christmas stories are unique and full of "memorable occasions.". No matter where Christmas finds me each year, I can never forget and should never forget those Christmases at my grandmother's house with my immediate family, my aunts and uncles and cousins. We all slept in the same house ! Well until we overflowed to my great aunt's house across the street. My brother, my sister and I along with all our cousins woke early to see what Santa had brought. And we were never disappointed. But that celebration didn't start there. All of this family had already gathered one month prior to decorate the ten foot tree in the living room. I can hardly begin to describe the "taste and sensory immersion" of that occasion. Boiled custard, coconut cake, butter cake, chocolate cake, pound cake, pecan pie, Christmas cookies, rum balls, coffee, tea, egg nog, and so much more. I've never thought about it till now. That "sensory immersion" was a significant part of those celebrations.As a child I thought it was all a prelude to the presents on Christmas Day, but I understand now that even as a young child this "sensory immersion" was all part of its meaning and significance.
But that was forty years ago. I have experienced forty more Christmases in a myriad of places since then. They all have become of part of the fabric of my celebration. "Memorable occasions" yield "happiness."
Many times when I read a news article, at the end of the article are links to other articles. This one caught my eye --Coffee Culture: Thoughts and Paradigms. A few initial thoughts sparked by the Global Coffee Forum. This forum was a part of International Coffee Day sponsored by the International Coffee Organization. The quote I referenced for this article is about coffee! Now go back and plug coffee into this equation--"Taste and sensory immersion foster happy occasions." So now you don't have to wait for a party, you can experience a little happiness anytime you wish. "Do you take cream and sugar?"
Have you ever wondered where "a cup of Joe" came from? When U.S. Navy Secretary Josephus Daniels banned alcohol from Navy ships, the sailors grudgingly called their beer substitute "a cup of Joe." (Urban Dictionary).
Did you notice there was no beer or wine at our tree decorating? Like I said, it was at my grandmother's house.
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