It is an oddity, of sorts. The two nuts I like the very most, aren’t nuts, or so I’m told. The peanut is a legume. Never heard of legumes until a couple of decades ago. I can easily sit down and eat a couple of pounds in one sitting.

Then about two or three years ago, some one spoiled it for me for cashews. All the time I have been eating them and then they spoil it for me. They said cashews aren’t nuts either. I think of all nuts, or should I say of all not-nuts cashews are my favorite. It is a good thing they cost so much. I would make myself sick on them very regularly.

They, along with the real nuts are really very healthy. That means they are good for you. Don’t let the kids find out. Because of the fiber in them, they are very good for digestion. It’s true. The last few months, I have taken to eating them, a lot of them.

Since I was thirty-ish I have had problems with digestion. I have paid many doctors a lot of good money to help me. It didn’t work. There are some things doctors know not. Now, since I have been eating the non-nut nuts, I have been doing much better, thank you. I sure wished one of those doctors told me about nuts a long time ago.

Of course, not everyone can eat peanuts or cashews. I am told as many as 20 percent of people are allergic to them to some degree. That is a true shame because the non-nuts are good and they good for a person, I mean, even besides the fiber thing. They are good about helping with circulation and they keep cholesterol low. Though cashews are an expensive food, they are less expensive than a heart attack or stroke. I wish I knew about them before my heart attack.

I buy at least two bags of peanuts and a couple of cans of cashews now every time I go shopping. I buy the peanuts still in the shell. I’ve gotten pretty good at shelling them. It gives me something to do while watching TV. I try to put the shell in a container, but many end up in my lap or on the floor. That means cleaning up after.

I guess it’s been a couple of decades ago, I drove south to the Gulf. By the time I reached Jackson, I started noticing signs, “Boiled Peanuts.” I had two thoughts, “You can boil peanuts?” and “What in the world do they taste like?” Well, I guess I did have one more thought, “Do I want to find out?”

I thought the thought revolting. I couldn’t imagine people ruining perfectly good peanuts and I certainly couldn’t imagine anyone would actually to pay for them. I mean, who wants to pay good money for a bunch of ruined peanuts?

Well, I guess there are a few folks who like to eat their legumes that way. Otherwise, why would anyone be selling them. I still have one more question. Are they boiled in or out of the shell? After all, anyone can boil nuts. It does, however, seem to be a thing a person should find out before they start heating the water.