Universal lingo

I don't speak Mandarin. I'm from Dallas, not Shanghai. That means it's not so easy to find ways to connect with my in-laws, other than loving their son and eating their cuisine with relish. (I like it a lot, so that's easy.) My father-in-law is a chef, and he grew up in the countryside. One way I can connect is by trying to grow Chinese vegetables in the garden, and showering him with fresh hot peppers. So it was with much pride that I discovered that the garlic chives that grow lush and full in my herb bed are the exact same ones they search for in the stores. M's parents were over this Saturday and taking a small tour of the house when my father-in-law got very excited and climbed INTO the herb bed with a pair of scissors and eventually a knife, chopping chives with abandon. "You don't understand! These are $2 for a small bunch! I'll give some to my friends!" One full grocery-sack later and I felt like I'd earned enough brownie points for a year. Next Fall, I plan to try some other Chinese vegetables in the new veggie garden--perhaps some water-spinach (yummy) and other greens. I may never get beyond "hello," "thank you," "this tastes good," and "Happy New Year" with my Chinese, but fresh produce is a universal language.