Perhaps the human heart is captured in an eggshell. And our reservoir of love begins incased, as liquid, yellow, playful, pristine. Perhaps through the heated company of a lover we begin to slowly cook and become more and more solid, resilient, able to be reshaped, and bumped around a bit without CRACKING. Perhaps before heat is applied we roll about guarding against accidentally slamming our fragile frame into one another or into unforgiving surfaces. Perhaps we know, too, that too much heat too quickly, or the careless application of heat might explode our precious inners, destroying our shell and rendering us garbage, ripe for the nonchalant pick-over by a savage roadside rodent. Perhaps we fear, too, the careless companion, who is unaware of our fragile nature and all too willing to bump into us and roll us, soft-side first, OFF of the countertop and onto the rubbish-laced kitchen floor. Perhaps we become scared by rumors or experience of these careless ones and we start to forget that we have shells at all and find ourselves feeling completely naked, edges undefined. 

But we all want more, don’t we? We don’t want to remain forever captured and contained as shell and yolk. We want to mix our inners together— maybe produce a bit o’ scramble, or sun-dried tomato and chevre quiche, or a lovely chocolate fudge cake with cream cheese frosting. We are deeply and intrinsically aware of our (STAMP) expiration date. And even more aware of (a predetermined) desired entree, appetizer, or dessert. We are looking for the perfect cell-mate. The complimentary ingredient(s). Ahhh, the happy dharma of 1 egg + a little bit o this and a little bit o that.

Like love, the complex, ever changing, unfortunately (intentionally?) fragile nature of an egg GELLS worthwhile dishes together. It’s basic CHEMISTRY. The egg is the CHEMISTRY that makes all that kitchen magic WORK. It’s true. And blessed be the shell that at once protects us AND allows us to easily crack open in love.

And so I say goddamn and Amen to my mother fuckin’ egg. I shall protect you once again, my invaluable friend. Stay with me… we’ll find the right mix.