This Month’s Film: Indochine
Cuisine: Vietnamese

Tomorrow is my birthday. “How old?” you wonder. Well…haven’t you heard? A lady never tells…and a gentleman never asks.

I have always regarded my birthday as a kind of personal New Year. A time for resolutions and new beginnings. And in honor of the occasion, I have dedicated a Daruma doll to the coming year. For those of you who don’t know the story or significance of the Daruma doll, here is a little explanation.

Daruma dolls are traditional symbols of determination and accomplishment in Japan. An interesting legend and significance is associated with these ubiquitous bright red dolls. The spherical papier mache figures are hand-painted in red and gold, and represent a Buddhist monk who, according to legend, sat in meditation for seven years, until his arms and legs atrophied. It is even said that he cut off his own eyelids so that he could stay awake during meditation, which is why Daruma dolls have no arms, legs or eyes. Today, Daruma dolls are a symbol of resolution and dedication to a task. When committing oneself to an important goal, the left eye of the doll is painted in, and once the goal is accomplished, the right eye is added to symbolize success.

And much like birthday wishes…I never tell my Daruma resolutions until they are a fait accompli.

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