Fun, Fear, and Fortune Cookies

If you search for the definition of “Fortune” you will find a variety of answers. One is: “chance or luck as an external, arbitrary force affecting human affairs.” Another: “position in life as determined by wealth.”

OK, so what’s the deal with the fortune cookies we get after our meal at the local Chinese restaurant? Are they supposed to tell our future? I love Chinese food and visit my favorite establishment weekly, sometimes more often. But, I don’t remember ever getting a “fortune” in my cookie that said I would have a rotten day. Will I always have a good day, as long as I eat Chinese?

I know lots of people who would never read a horoscope or consult someone who says they can tell your future by looking at your hand, etc. I understand that, but I’ve never seen anyone pass on opening his fortune cookie to gain access to the day’s words of wisdom.

Looking up the history of fortune cookies brings another surprise. Fortune cookies are not found in China. In fact, Chinese call them American Fortune Cookies. Brooklyn, Los Angeles, Seattle, Minneapolis, and Philadelphia are the major manufacturing locations of the 3 billion fortune cookies produced annually. Of course, there are opposing views, suggesting that fortune cookies were introduced to America by the Japanese.

All of this brings us to the day that I was in the Chinese restaurant enjoying my favorite foods. I always save room for my fortune cookie. I think it’s fun to read the slogans which are usually very generic. This day was like no other. I opened my fortune and it was blank. I turned it over and the other side was blank. OK, I understand manufacturing and how things like this can happen, but could it be that I have no fortune because I have no future? Could I gather the courage to walk out of the restaurant? Certainly, don’t be foolish. But, I was very careful walking across the parking lot!

Street Artists - Key West

On my travels, I enjoy watching and visiting with street artists. They all are unique, having such a diverse set of skills, personalities, and interesting stories of the past. I try to purchase at least one piece of art when I travel to my favorite locations.

Our recent trip to Key West allowed several opportunities to get to know a couple of artists who market their creations to visitors of the island town. On our walk to breakfast, we passed Bob Surrett who had his artwork set up on the sidewalk along South Street within a block of the popular destination known as “The Southernmost Point.”

He told me that he’d heard of Gallipolis and I thought he was blowing smoke until he mentioned that Gallipolis had been settled by a group of people from France. He told me he had a special technique using a custom made paint pallet knife. I looked closely as he painted and asked, “Isn’t that a piece of cardboard?” With a wink and a grin he said, “Yes, it is, but I tore it to a custom size.”

I couldn’t resist purchasing a small painting he’d made of the moon rising from behind the Key West Lighthouse. He had framed it with small pieces of wood. It is quite a unique piece of art.

One morning as we were having our breakfast, I spotted an artist set up on the pier painting a likeness of “The Southernmost House.” When we finished eating we walked out the pier to examine his work. William C. Sasser introduced himself and welcomed us to watch as he worked. He had several pieces of art on display for sale. William had a degree in art and was very precise with his brushstrokes. 

I chose the painting above because of the sign hanging on the palm tree. Go right and you get to Key West; go left and you return to reality. Very appropriate for my personal attitude. Like Jimmy Buffett says, “The lower the latitude, the better the attitude.”