Food In, Food Out

-

Wednesday, 3 September 2025

Another day, another funny family drama. This time, starring… bubur sumsum.

So here’s what happened. Early in the morning, my mom was already in a mild state of confusion. She wanted to serve the leftover bubur sumsum from yesterday, but when she opened the fridge: gone. Completely vanished. What she did find was only the liquid gula aren in a teacup, sitting all lonely and abandoned. My mom swore she put the bubur in the fridge herself.

Naturally, I joined the investigation. We both combed through the fridge like detectives looking for hidden treasure, but nope, not there. Then I checked the sink. And there it was... the crime scene evidence: an empty container that once held bubur sumsum. Case closed. Someone had finished it. The only question was: who?

We had two prime suspects: my husband or my eldest daughter. Both are perfectly capable of sneaking into the kitchen in the middle of the night. Both are capable of eating in silence like ninjas. So, like true detectives, we decided to wait until one of them woke up and see who cracked first.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed my breakfast. Mom had prepared a full spread, because that’s just who she is. I had ikan cakalang tumis kecombrang, sayur bening sawi jamur tomat, boiled eggs, and classic romaine Salad to Go! A plate that felt more like a hug than a meal. My husband joined the table soon after, so naturally, I asked if he was the midnight bubur thief. Honestly, my mom and I didn’t mind if he finished it; better to be eaten than wasted. We were just curious. But he said no. Which left only one suspect: my daughter. We’d have to wait for her confession :D 

At 9 a.m., got WhatsApp message from my old friend Detha. She told me she had dropped off a little souvenir keychain from another friend, Antie. What a sweet little triangle of friendship. Coincidentally, she was around the neighborhood because she was dropping up her son who studies nearby. Sadly, I couldn’t meet her. I’m still not strong enough to go out for long walks, and she couldn’t come up to the apartment because my husband was in a back-to-back meeting marathon. Bless her heart, she said, “No worries, focus on your recovery first. Next time we’ll hang out properly.” Friends who don’t guilt-trip you for saying no are gold. 

We had early lunch today since my daughter had to go for campus. And guess what happened? Yep, the grand confession. She admitted that she finished the bubur sumsum in the middle of the night. Mystery solved! Apparently, her body clock is permanently set to international time zones, so maybe when she eventually studies abroad, she won’t suffer jet lag anymore. See, silver lining everywhere.

The rest of the day went on with more small joys. In the afternoon, my mom returned from her favorite hangout spot (a little saung by the poolside) and brought me one pack of Yakult classic and one pack of Yakult mango flavor. Yippee! Doctor’s orders: probiotics for smoother digestion. But here’s the funny twist: my digestion lately has been too smooth. Every meal, goes straight to the toilet. It’s like my body is practicing speed-running “food in, food out.” 

I asked my unofficial doctor, Doc ChatGPT, and the prime suspects for my tummy drama turned out to be… onions (which I’ve been eating in all forms: black garlic, mom's homemade fried shallots, raw garlic). Also... chia seeds, and, ironically, Yakult itself. Imagine that. The cure might be the culprit. So maybe I need to lay low with these foods tomorrow and test my system. Wish me luck.

By evening, another wave of kindness arrived. My dear friend, Mbak Ike, sent over panada, sambal roa, and edamame. I felt spoiled. The panada is already reserved for tomorrow’s breakfast. The sambal roa goes straight to my mom because my sensitive tummy still can’t handle spicy. And the edamame? Perfect for family snacking this weekend when we gather for my birthday. What a thoughtful gift. 

When I look back at today, I realize something funny: lately my blog posts are all about food. Bubur sumsum, Yakult, panada, sambal roa, salmon steak, rujak, burger... you name it. Maybe that’s because, in this season of recovery, food has become my daily logbook. My digestive system is still fragile, so keeping track of what I consume is kind of necessary. But also, I can’t help laughing. What if my blog slowly transforms into a food diary without me planning it? INFJ me, who usually dives deep into reflections about meaning and purpose, suddenly turns into a living menu. Life is unpredictable like that.

But here’s the thing. Even through small, seemingly silly stories (like midnight bubur thefts or Yakult adventures) I find lessons. I’m reminded of what Maya Angelou once said: “We are more alike, my friends, than we are unalike.” Family life is full of tiny mysteries, annoyances, and surprises. Whether it’s missing food in the fridge or an overly active digestive system, these little moments connect us. They make us laugh, shake our heads, and remember that we’re human.

Sometimes I think recovery (whether physical or emotional) is less about big milestones and more about noticing the small daily dramas that keep us grounded.
Like how my mom worries about leftovers, how my daughter sneaks midnight snacks, how my husband gets stuck in back-to-back meetings, how my friends drop off thoughtful gifts without expecting anything back. These small, ordinary moments are the fabric of healing.

So yes, my tummy may still be unpredictable. My fridge may still harbor mysteries. And my blog may look like a food tracker disguised as storytelling. But I’ll take it all. Because healing is not just about the body; it’s about laughter, connection, kindness, and patience.

And maybe tomorrow, when I test my “no onion, no Yakult, no chia seed” plan, I’ll discover something new again. Another mystery, another story, another reflection waiting to be told.

Stay healthy,
Nuniek Tirta

Other stories worth noting

Stone-Free, Heart-Full

-
Image
Last night I slept like a baby at the hospital. Woke up feeling fresh, and no toilet struggles this morning. First win of the day! Around 7 a.m., I emerged from the bathroom to find my mom and my in-laws already there. They’d left their house at 5:30 a.m., picked up my mom on the way, and arrived bright and early.   Today’s main event was ESWL treatment to blast my kidney stones into dust. It was supposed to happen at 8 a.m., then moved to 9 a.m., and finally got pushed to 11 a.m. because my doctor had another procedure. Which meant the parents had been there for hours, and I got to nap on and off like a cat waiting for dinner. But maybe that delay was divine scheduling. Just minutes before the nurse came to take me in, my pastor arrived to pray for me in person. He drove 40–50 kilometers to be there. That’s not just kind, it’s humbling. Thank you, Pak Pendeta. And earlier, another “pastor” (in quotes because she’s actually my friend Detha) prayed for me over the phone. Add in the ...
Read more

I'm Alive!

-
Image
Yes, after 10 days in hospital and surviving three major operations, thank God I’m still alive, guys!  I know, I know, I’ve been absent for a week from this blog. Not because I don’t want to write, but because life gave me a little detour called “hospital survival mode.” And let me tell you, survival mode is no joke. Imagine trying to juggle post-op pain, a stubborn IV line, doctors coming in at odd hours, and me negotiating with nurses for one more round of painkillers like I was bargaining in a flea market. Add in Netflix running in the background, half-watched movies I don’t remember, and me dozing off mid-dialogue. That was my week. See? Even my fingers had a medical leave. Who knew something as small as an IV placement could make me feel like a baby bird learning to type? But apparently, while I was away, statistics showed hundreds of people were still peeking at this blog every day, as if to check if I’d left a heartbeat here. That thought touches me deeply. So now that my ha...
Read more

From Porcelain Throne to Super VIP Room

-
Image
Woke up at 4:45 AM and couldn’t get back to sleep because, well… the mules were kicking. Ended up spending quality time on my porcelain throne (as one does) until my youngest left for school with Daddy as the driver. Then it was time to teach my mom how to use my kitchen gadgets: the dishwasher , Coway water filter , electric kettle , electric egg boiler , sinkgard food waste disposer , digital slow cooker & steamer,   electric lighter , multifunction rice cooker , and of course my beloved mini retro oven air fryer . After fixing her breakfast, I went for another “meditation” session in the toilet because the earlier one was unfinished business. Wrapped up just as my husband got back, and then had breakfast with Mom. But nope, round two wasn’t enough. Chili and fried snacks from yesterday decided to remind me why I’m supposed to be having my appendix removed soon. Still, can you blame me? They were delicious :p By the third round, I was finally done. Told my daughter to cook wi...
Read more

Cold and Bold

-
Image
Saturday, 16 August 2025, past midnight “Bu, bu, operasinya sudah selesai ya Bu.” “Dingin… dingin…” Those were the first words that came out of my mouth when I woke up from surgery. Not exactly poetic, but hey, when you’ve just survived laparoscopy and hysterectomy-laparotomy in one go, you don’t wake up quoting Shakespeare. You wake up asking for blankets. I remember shivering, my teeth chattering, my body completely confused about what just happened. The nurses rushed to wrap me in layers, and I drifted in and out of consciousness, half-aware that my life had just been handed back to me, stitched and stapled and sewn together. And honestly, that’s the thing about life, isn’t it? We often imagine survival arriving in big, cinematic ways. Dramatic music, bright lights, maybe even a slow clap. In reality, sometimes it shows up with a shaky whisper: “dingin… dingin…” The doctors told my husband it was quite long, delicate surgery. My appendix alone took nearly an hour, and removing my my...
Read more

Posting Without Scrolling and Other Small Victories

-
Image
Last night, I went to bed at 2 AM. Not ideal, I know. At 7 AM, my bladder staged a coup and forced me to wake up. I shuffled to the bathroom, sat there like a queen on her porcelain throne, and opened my laptop, thinking I’d just check something quickly. Famous last words. Before I knew it, three hours had passed. But here’s the twist: I wasn’t doomscrolling. Nope. I've been hiatus on social media for almost 3 weeks now, remember? Instead, I figured out the holy grail of social media sanity: posting on Instagram without getting sucked into the endless scroll. Not even a hint of what other people were posting. The secret weapon? Meta Business Suite . It lets you schedule and post content without even opening the Instagram app. No “just one quick look” that turns into a black hole of reels and memes. Plus, there are neat automation tools, analytics to geek out on, and scheduling options that make me feel like I’m running a proper content empire. Maybe (just maybe) I can return to soc...
Read more