Fish Dish

At Vian’s dinner party, the one he held as a thanksgiving and as a way to cherish good memories of a particular group of departed family members in his lineage, quite a number of relatives and friends were present. Their attendances were probably mostly solicited through the now-considered life-line facility, the mobile phone sms connectivity.

Beautiful house! Vian’s Hilltop Mompoit Residence, snugly perched more on a hill-side rather than on a hilltop, faces the not-so-distant St. Michael’s Church building. It had been occasionally observed that the sun seemed to set behind that building on some generous evening. That particular evening atmosphere was simply marvellous as there had been no heavy downpour for about a week or so already. The quests were all engaged in their own discussions pertaining to their own particular interests. Quite a number of heads turned when Marcellous, a retired federal government officer, arrived. Someone loudly commented, “Look at him! He is a picture of such a happy carefree individual without any trace of worldly worries.” He was indeed all in happy smiles, approaching with both hands tucked in his shorts’ pockets.

People knew how to read signs, general signs which needed not be displayed but yet they were there in the air, so to speak. The general conversational noise died down as the host, Vian, started to address those present. He welcomed with thanks the presence of all, outlining the purposes of the evening gathering. He welcomed with special mention of his sister, Sister Rosalie’s Home Visit from the Lord’s temporary outreach assignment for her in Minado, Selawasi, Indonesia. She was then invited to lead the specially prepared evening prayer for the occasion.

Dinner naturally followed the corporate grace before a meal which was also led by Sister Rosalie. In her, perhaps, carefully selected yet spontaneous prayer words of thanks for the food He has given and in her invocation for God’s showers of blessings for all those present and, through unavoidable circumstances, otherwise, an attentive part-taker would have had glimpses of man’s thankful adorations and God’s appeasing kindness and grace to the world’s lacking. All the other dishes were there, dagok, (daging wogok) danuk, (daging manuk) and others. Udang was in abundance, vegetables, too, were in multiple varieties, but fish dish, notably, lacking. The food could have been catered for. Ample supply of rich and good food for the not so many mouths present! BBQ hotdogs, chicken wings and parts and dagok, if not, lamb ribs loaded a square side-table. Seeing the rich and nutritious food and conscious of my open tendencies to sometimes succumb to a temptation for another mouthful when I knew I had enough, I silently added my own plea to the Lord. “…and let it not be detrimental to my health, rather let it nourish the body so that I can continue to use it for the greater glory of Your name here on earth …” And, sure enough, I did not feel at all the urge to even approach the loaded square side-table!

Earlier on, Marcellous, Danny and I were exchanging verbal notes on tilapia rearing. Danny was fretting and fuming with guised wonders as to how his fish could disappear from their ponds. I shared with him a philosophical theory in that they were not considered wasted if they had indeed disappeared from their ponds. I summarised that it was only a simple case of them going down the wrong throats! Marcellous, as usual, was in his happy smiles!

If there had been time before the dinner or after the dinner I could have convince those freshwater farm fish lovers that fish was and is still indeed good food for the brain. But there was no time, or that precious commodity, time, was limited or not well managed …. What better time would have it been to introduce some clever facts! The host might have been re-enlightened, convinced and prompted to put some free fish dishes on his dinner table for all diners in future.

I could have completely shared with them what was dished out by Leeds, Spring 2007 issue, pertaining to its dinner party guide to the brain. I could have, among others, re-emphasized the fact, rather than myth, that fish is indeed good for the brain. But, save the rest of the talking points for next chance!

Your brain is made up of approximately 100 billion brain cells, or neurons, and about 10 times that number (one trillion) of support cells, or glia. The three parts to the neurons are: Cell body, Axons (fibres extending out from the cell body carrying impulses) and Dendrites (which connect with other cells and enable neurons to “talk” to each

other). Neurons work by transmitting electrochemical signals between

themselves. Cell bodies form what is known as grey matter. Axons run through an insulating sheath of myelin, made of fat hence the term white matter.