It kept me alive, barely

For those who've ever spent any amount of time in their lives being poor this post is for you. Others might as well read a Scarlette post or gym story from the archives.

I came home to my apartment on a Friday night. The taste of various kinds of alcohol still permeating my tongue. I fumble with the keys marking up the door as I try to accomplish the simple task of inserting it into the lock. Finally after much hassle the door opens and I stumble into the living room.

I should go straight to bed, but my stomach is begging me for substance other than liquid. I throw open the kitchen cupboards and refrigerator only to find nothing more than stale crackers, a jar with a single pickle, and various condiments.

But wait I have the food of the gods sitting on the counter. Sure I may have had the same thing for lunch and dinner today, as well as the last six months, but it was cheap and available. I grab a pot, clean it up, and boil some water on the stove. I throw in the package of shrimp flavored Maruchan Ramen in the water and wait in anticipation of the tasty noodles.

Being young, poor, and terrible with prioritizing my money Ramen became a staple of my diet. They sold ten of them for a dollar so it gave me the opportunity to spend my cash on other things, such as booze, concerts, women, etc. Sure it's not the healthiest of diets, but I won't regret consuming it on a regular basis, cause without it I may not have had as much fun.

The noodles are finally done. I place a plate on top of the pot and use it as a makeshift strainer. I open the shrimp flavored packet, which in retrospect didn't taste all that much different than the other flavors, and mix it with the noodles. I sit up on the counter and take my first bite. My roommate wakes up and asks if I'm drunk. I keep quiet as he already knows the answer.

Why write this post? Well in honor of the World Ramen Summit or course. I find this awesome. My eating habits have changed dramatically since then, and for the better I'd like to think, but sometimes I miss those glorious days of ending a fun night on simple sustenance.

"Ramen is not just for Japan, but it is also for the world and the universe," - Junichiro Koizumi