That's why as much as I feel bad for her, I appreciated the cognitive dissonance of
To me -- someone who fervently strives to be agnostic and never be entirely certain of anything --
Is the spirit of the eggplant happy and benevolent?
...or meanspirited and malevolent?
Sexy and sassy?
...or dark and mysterious?
I mourn for her loss of the eggplant from her diet, as I'm one of those who can appreciate a well-made dish with aubergines. Eggplant detractors are right, in that eggplants which are improperly cooked can be either bitter, slimy, or both. That said, properly prepared eggplant is a beauty to behold.
Last night I ate eggplant in her honor, and in honor of the great mystery of the eggplant. It was good.