post birthday celebration #4

LINK: post birthday celebration #4

Currently listening to: Bulletproof – La Roux

Been there, done that, messed around
I’m having fun, don’t put me down
I’ll never let you sweep me off my feet

Play

You’d think that we’d be done celebrating my birthday, which was back in May… but we’re not. Work had me so busy that I had to put most of my social plans on pause. Now, I’m still busy but slightly less, so I’m making time to see the people I’ve missed. Also, trying to sync out schedules to meet was challenging over the past couple of months.

My Persian auntie (former colleague who insists I call her “auntie”) invited me and my former director over to her house for a homemade meal. They greeted me with flowers, food that was pure comfort, and company that felt like family.

I’ve grown to love Persian foods over the years, thanks to auntie’s cooking. She’s an exceptional chef and I’ve tried nearly every dish she’s made. I’ve gone to Persian restaurants all over Southern California and nothing tastes remotely as good as her cooking.

Tahdig – crispy rice with barberries for a little razzle-dazzle, which I love her for that. The texture is delicate and crunchy. Koreans also have something similar to this, 누룽지 (nurungi) which is scorched rice… but it doesn’t taste as good as tahdig.

Zereshk Polo Morgh – Persian barberry rice with chicken. The saffron, turmeric, and tender chicken is one of my all time favorites.
Kotlet – Persian ground meat and potato patties is so good. I could eat a bunch of these without hesitation.
There was also a salad that was not pictured for whatever reason.

True to form, she cooked enough for an army, sending us home with leftovers to last for days, which I’m not mad about. Persian foods is one of those cuisines I could for months and not get tired of it.

We spent hours at the table, talking and laughing, swapping updates on our lives. The conversation drifted back to the “good ole days” when we all worked together. The pay back then was utter shit, but we had grit, passion, and loyalty to our patients and to one another. I truly felt like our team was my second family. I spent more time with them (40-60 hours a week) than with my own biological fam.

When they both left, the workplace changed drastically. Without them, it turned into a shit show, and I quickly realized not all places are meant to be forever. I stayed for about another year but eventually left too. It became toxic and unbearable.

Still, the three of us have kept our connection alive by meeting up every 3-4 months. Healthcare is a big field, but people cross paths more often that you’d think. This is why I don’t believe in burning bridges.