Popcorn. (mashed potato)

If one is to place individuals in different categories, one category should be choice of popcorn. Method of preparation. I'm partial to butter, salt, and brewer's yeast. I usually just stick with the first two, since the yeast just falls off and collects at the bottom of the bowl. But sometimes I come back to it. B vitamins. Should keep it around in case a vegan comes by, seeking gravy. Good with a glass of tequila while re-reading one of William Gibson's novels. Something about the shape of the internet, or trying to predict the future as it was seen through his eyes in the 1980s.

Old Bay seasoning isn't a bad way to go, either. Accompanied by a glass of red wine and a roaring fire. Or simply a freezing cold house and decent company. Or company that you're stuck with for the weekend at someone's summer house in michigan, but it's December.

A pig-farming man brought some popcorn by my aunt's house once. He placed the entire cob in the microwave. She was 42 at the time, and hadn't seen this man for 27 years. or 30. But she'd spoken of him, if the alcohol was flowing. Into her mouth. He was the love of her life, a Nebraska boy whom she'd spent a few days with, traveling through the west, during her childhood.

In a high school, world history class, we were visited by an archaeologist. She told us of her work in Egypt, digging up bones and things. She said nights could get boring out there, at the dig. She felt a need to keep things interesting for her group. "One night, we'll have a bottle of vodka. One night, we'll have popcorn." Puzzling why she chose to share this detail with a bunch of 15 year olds. It would be a nother couple of years before I couldn't get through a boring night without popcorn and vodka.