Independence Day, how I'm feeling, Vancouver...

This evening is Independence Day for Israel. For some reason the holiday developed into BBQ day. In Hebrew we call it a mangal. You know how you usually need some type of cardboard or something in order to blow the coals so that they light up properly? Well, in Hebrew that even has a name. A nafnaf. My mom pointed out to me that it says fan fan backwards. I'm not sure if that's on purpose because "linafnef" means to blow, in the way one blows the coals on Independence Day in Israel. Yes, in order to celebrate finally having a country where Jews rule over themselves, we kill animals and cook them. How easily you can make that sound negative.

But it's fun. And tonight I was the one destined to light the BBQ's and then cook the food. I'm not sure how that happened. At some point when my mom asked me to put coals in the BBQ's and get them lit, I started getting a feeling of what was to come. And then when she asked me if I wanted cooking utensils, I really started getting the idea.

So I took on the job with real flair. There were a few highlights of my BBQing. Firstly, in order to blow the coals in the perfect manner, I used, you'll never guess, a flipper. Yes, a scuba-diving flipper. My sisters really got a kick out of that. It still makes me laugh when I think about it. Me standing over the coals, waving the flipper with all my might.

Also, when I was trying to get the fire going, the little kiddies of our family were standing around watching with much interest. I'm sure the fact that I was making a show out of it added to the excitement. Anyway, my little 6-year old sister and my niece of the same age started screaming at the mangal (BBQ), "You stupid mangal! Light!" But I pointed out to them that if you ever want someone to do something, if you call it stupid, it won't do it. But if you show it love, it might do it.

So we started showing love to the mangal. "Oh, you lovely mangal! Please light! We want to eat. I love you so much!!!" Finally, it lit.

Of course the mangal dance was also pivotal in the lighting ceremony. 4 little kids and I held hands around the mangal and danced around singing, "Mangal, mangal, light light light," or something like that.

But here is the most major highlight of the whole evening. My dad complimented me on my BBQ-ing. He said usually when you go to a BBQ, the food is either raw or burnt. And, amazingly, mine was all cooked perfectly!

My dad is not easy to please in the food department and so I basked in his compliment for hours.

All in all, a fun evening had by all.

QE

P.S. My BBQ-ing secret was that I flipped the food quite often. Other times, the food burnt because it was left on one side for too long. : )