A Savory Stream of Memories

My mother’s love language is making pho, and her way of saying “I love you” is through placing the best pieces of fatty beef in my bowl. Visiting me in the U.S. my third year studying abroad, she made pho for my friends, using machine translation to teach them how to hold chopsticks and add spice correctly. Mom always says, “Cây có cội, nước có nguồn,” meaning, “A tree has its roots, a river has its source.” Everyone comes from a culture. While adapting to a new environment and culture, it is important (and often delicious) to remember your origins. — Chau Minh Tran

Casting My Love Spell

A week before our first date, I wrote a list of everything I wanted in a partner and tucked it into my wallet. On our fifth anniversary, I told Ed I might’ve cast a love spell. By then, we both knew. We were in deep. A year earlier, we’d unknowingly seen the same P.T. for different injuries. He had a torn Achilles; I had a meniscus tear. “Meant to be,” I joke. We still live separately. We’re not married. A power of attorney is enough. Maybe that’s why we’re still in love: two healed givers, quietly guarding each other. — William J. O’Brien

New Life, Standing By

Love Field, Gate 9. Aptly named? I wait in the uncomfortable seat to claim my standby spot. In front of me in the A group, surrounded by boyish, handsome colleagues, is a ghost from 20 years ago. Visions of his red-haired, smiling face at my office door, shared laughter over our project and a fond farewell as he moved to Singapore with his family. A shy hello, happy smiles of disbelief at this serendipitous reunion and a promise to reconnect. Now, years later, we are a new family of five children, spouses and eight adorable grandchildren. Love Field indeed. — Melanie Trent

What a Steal

My friend donated his couch weeks before a behemoth, custom-made replacement would arrive. “You can’t have an empty living room,” I told him as we descended to the basement of a local thrift store. A woman was there picking out a chaise longue. “That couch looks awesome!” she exclaimed as I invited her to take a seat. We reveled in its comfort. “We can deliver it for you!” she said, volunteering her boyfriend and truck. An hour later, the couch arrived and the kind woman, Kelly, and I have been inseparable since (the greatest thrift store find of my life). — April Leavenworth