El Mercado

Good evening, bienvenidos, and welcome to El Mercado, the late night grocery store of local legend. In the parking lot, a gentle soundtrack of trumpets and violins blaze through the speaker system, beckoning customers to enter and explore this one-of-a-kind place. Inside this door, light from the ceiling above bounces off the sleek, linoleum floors producing a crisp, clean glow that radiates throughout the aisles. The air carries a blend of sweet and savory scents, giving it a safe, nostalgic quality. At this time of night, you feel no sense of rush or worry. Tonight, you have all the time in the world to slow down and admire the space around you, allowing your senses to soak in the richness of your environment. As you settle in for the evening, let's deepen your state of relaxation with a short wind-down exercise. Tonight's exercise is a really simple breathing exercise. So when you are ready, let's begin. So first, get yourself comfortable. Now just bringing the attention to the breath. Just noticing where you feel it, in the nose, the throat, the chest, the diaphragm. You're nice and relaxed. We are going to be taking a deep breath in for four, holding it for four, and then breathing out for six. So are you ready? Let's begin. In for four, two, three, four. Hold it for four, two, three, four. Now breathing out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. In for four, two, three, four. Holding for four, two, three, four. Out for six, two, three, four, five, six. Great! Now returning the breath to normal. At the far end of the store, a white banner draped above the aisles reads, best tortillas in the city. Under, a small conveyor belt runs slowly next to a mixing bowl of flour. On the table in front, stacks of Sobeys, corn and flour tortillas of all sizes, keep each other warm. Every bag contains a dozen fresh from the cookstove. Standing behind the counter is Olivia, who has been making tortillas at El Mercado for as long as this store has been open. Her knowing hands whisk in the flour, salt and baking powder slowly mixing in the lard and water, kneading the dough and shaping the delicious discs with care. Her eyes are set in a soft, careful focus as she works, casting an occasional glance at the stove top to watch the heat alchemize the color of the tortillas. After years spent perfecting her craft, Olivia's efforts have not gone unnoticed. Lifelong patrons of El Mercado will tell you the white banner is not just for show. These really are the best tortillas in the city. Not everything you love about El Mercado is edible. Above you, a ceramic yellow,...