My mouth is watering.

I love food with a passion. Eating remains one of the great pleasures left to me.

Paella is one of the basic food groups. It’s analogous but not similar to stew, one of those composite dishes where you throw in everything including the kitchen sink. Ingredients may vary.

On a bed of Spanish rice, stirred and layered in, a large shallow pan, come the other ingredients, tomatoes, of course, sea food, possibly, probably if available, shrimp, mussels (traditional), meat, usually chicken (or rabbit if possible). Sausage works too, and that’s what we have (no rabbit). Kristina has the big pan out in the kitchen, and soon I’ll be able to inhale.

I remember a video, I think it was Huell Howser, where a classic paella was being prepared in a giant pan over an open fire in the back yard. The lid was lifted, the paella proudly stirred and steaming, enough to feed the neighborhood or an entire restaurant, and Huell rubbed his hands.

I wanted to climb into the TV.

But the paella today in the kitchen is just as good, and I can hardly wait.

Food, glorious food, is not just a song. It’s a reason to live.

If we in the world would sit down together at the table and pass the food, there would be no war, we could spend a pleasant evening, and get a good night’s sleep.