Moving Form

In Persian there is a saying, and please don’t ask why it exists. Its literal translation is “May I eat your liver!” Note the punctuation, which is essential to its expression. It is not a question, it is a statement. And believe it or not, it’s highly affectionate and a very nice thing to say, especially to children or to those whose cuteness or cuddle-ability you find endearing.

Well now there’s an appropriate rejoin should a kind elderly Persian thrust this phrase upon you. Rather than the vague, mentally disorienting moment that would generally ensue, now you can reach your hand into your pocket, and whilst extracting a small glass vial, demand “Eat this liver instead, I harvested it from my own umbillicus.”

Scientists in the UK have made the medical breakthrough of producing miniature livers which can hopefully repair damaged ones, and one day develop into full transplantable livers. Not drinking alcohol, I hope that I should never need a liver transplant. But no doubt I will find this adjunctive use of tremendous value.