A new experience...

Sushi... most people who have never had it, or are stuck on a "meat and taters" diet all cringe at the sound of its name. I have to admit, until recently, the thought of venturing into even taking a bite was nowhere near appetizing to me. Yet after hearing people talk about how good it is, my curiosity has gotten the best of me. I mentioned this a few days ago to my good friend, Jim Whaley, who is completely into the sushi craze, and he said he'd let me know next time some came his way.

Well, my phone rang today about 3 minutes after clocking out for lunch. It was my good friend and local caffeine pusher, Jim Whaley informing that Angela Wegley had just arrived with some fresh sushi rolls, and there was enough extra for me to get my feet wet in this new experience. So, steered my car (still available - just FYI) towards Dad's Place.

I have to say, I didn't expect sushi to taste like it did. I truly expected it to taste like, well, seaweed and fish. It was nowhere near what I expected. It was actually really flavorful and I'm thinking "I can do sushi!" Second bite, with Jim and Angela closely watching (like a couple of drug dealers getting me stoned for the first time), I tried it with the wasabi. HOLY FREAKIN COW! (That's actually what I said, but it sounded more like "HOHWY FWEAGHEN HCOW." I've had hot stuff in my mouth before, but this was like none other. I don't remember feeling the heat on my tongue. It went straight to my sinuses. My next thought: "How deep into hell does one have to go to get this ingredient that makes your nose feel like it's turning inside out and slapping you in the face?" Then, just as the tears and snot were about to gush, and I'm thinking "how do I make it stop," the heat is gone. Next words out of my mouth: "Chad's gotta try this!"

Enter the youth pastor from my church, the Right Reverand Chad L Murphy. I immediately dialed my cell phone. Chad answers. "Chad, you've gotta come over to Dad's Place. I've got something here you have got to try!" He was there in 5 minutes. Watching this "beans, deer meat, and potatoes" youth pastor try sushi was funny enough. What was real funny was his polite restraint, knowing that the one who made the sushi rolls and wasabi was at the table with him. You could tell he really wasn't much of a fan. His only comment" "it has a 'clean' taste to it." Then comes the wasabi. The look on that guy's face was PRICELESS! Even funnier: he wouldn't just chew and swallow. He just slowly chewed, making each chew reveal more wasabi - it lasted forever for him!

So, what does Chad do? Let's just say we had a very unique pre-service youth stunt tonight involving two teenagers, two spoons and WASABI!

Thank you Jim Whaley and Angela Wegley for breaking me into the sushi experience today. I'll never be the same (allergies are gone at least!).