Coconuts are nuts that are able to float for long distances. They originated in India and were then spread by man purposely. They are used in Hindu rituals like worship and weddings. Thus, coconuts are seen as the purest form of fruit one can offer to God. The word coconut is derived from the word “coco,” which means “head” or “skull” in Portuguese because of the indentations that make the coconut look like facial features (“Coconut Palm”).

From curries to coconut oil, coconuts are extremely versatile and heavily used when it comes to the dishes my family has been making for generations. Whenever I visit my parents' hometowns in India, I am reminded that my extended family makes 90% of their dishes with coconuts. Additionally,  the abundance of coconut trees I visually see surrounding the area is overwhelming. I remember when I was younger, just shaking the coconut to tell how much water was in it got me so excited because I loved drinking the water. The sight of the hard brown casing and the white tender fruit on the inside is something I’ve long been fond of.

However, ever since I was demoted from being an only child and my brother was born, things have never been the same since. With my brother around, coconuts are a whole different story. Now, whenever he even starts to get the slightest suspicion that he smells a coconut from within a 2 mile radius, he angrily starts screaming at the top of his lungs “IS THERE COCONUT HERE.” And while I realize this is with good reason my brother does this, it is somewhat disappointing to me and my love for coconuts. While I have sympathy for his deathly allergy that quickly makes him start to lose his ability to breathe and cannot control, coconuts have now developed a different connotation for my family because of my brother.