The Perfect Avocado
Some days an oblong avocado will have to do.
Avocado toast is my favorite meal to eat. Every single morning when I get home from training, the very first thing that I do is throw two pieces of Ezekiel bread and one JustEgg in the toaster oven. Whether I am coming in from the pool, off my bike or in from a run, one thing is guaranteed. I am hungry. It is here that I am in need of the perfect avocado. However, in order to have the perfectly ripe, soft, spreadable, not brown, avocado, the search started days ago. Nestled comfortably between the cherry tomatoes and whatever species of apples happen to be on sale. Standing there in the supermarket, in front of the giant pyramid of avocados all in a different stage of ripeness, I find myself strategizing on how to have an avocado of perfect ripeness for the next 4-5 mornings. The actual quantity needed, of course, depending on how hungry my 4-year-old, Zelda, happens to be that week. I carefully pick-up and squeeze multiple orbs, Covid be damned. I look at the shape. I prefer round to oblong. I observe the smoothness of the skin. I prefer super smooth to textured. I work backwards. One for the next morning. One for two mornings out. By the time I am five mornings out, I am looking for the hardest one in the bunch. Satisfied I have what I need, I move on towards the broccoli and whatever comes next.
By the time the toaster oven bell dings the next morning, I am repeating the process. Picking up multiple orbs. Re-assessing my life choices. Looking at them all again. Trying to replay my thought process. I find what I am looking for. The soft, easily spread, no brownish bits, delicious avocado. I spread it out on my warm toasted bread. I sprinkle on the Everything-but-the-Bagel seasoning. I splash it with a little (or a lot) of Cholula. I put the JustEgg on top. Take a big bite, then put the rest on a plate to go sit down. A cup of black coffee rounds out the meal. As the kids trickle in to the breakfast table with sleepies in their eyes, I am usually ready for round two as the search for the perfect avocado is seemingly never ending.