It has become a tradition to prepare my daughters favorite meal for her birthday. For a long time it was chicken and dumplings. Those were the growing up years. She is now making that for herself. The food has transitioned as has our lives. There were many years she was living her life apart from me (as it should be) working , raising and taking care of her family, and becoming the talented, creative, cherished daughter she is now.
Her birthday was last week but the dinner had to be postponed and rescheduled for last night. I shopped. Soft shell crab is a seasonal delicacy. My friends in Oregon can't quite figure out what soft shell crab is. The crab is purchased live and cleaned by the fish monger. With the meal I wanted to use morel mushrooms, another delicacy, that is seasonal. Now I know my friends in Oregon will know what morels are! I had to buy the mushrooms dried and then I reconstituted them. This year I made them as part of a pasta sauce. I bought cupcakes from the "Cupcake Bakery" that is famous--of coarse for its cupcakes. Oh! the salad was sliced beets, orange sections, and goats cheese. All together a meal to be proud
My daughter works at a salon a few blocks from my apartment. She came right after work. There is a feeling in the pit of my stomach that happens with an occasion such as this. The times spent, one on one, lessen as a child gets older.
But a birthday dinner is one I can count on to be private and filled with love and lots of laughter.
She loved and devoured the meal. She took home a care package of the few leftovers. When I went into the kitchen to clean up I noticed that the cupcake had been reduced to just the partial cake minus the frosting. Just like she did as a kid. Some things never change.
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, April 25, 2010
In Mourning
This morning when I woke up, I noticed how dark it was in my room. It took a minute but then I realized it was rainy and gloomy outside. I LOVE IT!!!!
Winter is my favorite time. I don't know why but I feel better in the winter. I have more energy in the winter and I'm happier in the winter. Could it be because I'm a winter baby? I really don't know.
I often write letters to the weather forecasters at the TV stations asking them not to moan so much when it rains. Some of us like the rain and the dark and the cold. Walk outside in the snow and people are smiling. Walk outside in the hot humid summer and people are ready to kill. I have written a poem to winter.
i hate when winter fades
the security of dark evenings cease
i moan the loss of a breathtaking first snow
the bare sticked trees
the cold smoke breath
i welcome the summer solstice
shortened days
and long for winter to begin again
Winter is my favorite time. I don't know why but I feel better in the winter. I have more energy in the winter and I'm happier in the winter. Could it be because I'm a winter baby? I really don't know.
I often write letters to the weather forecasters at the TV stations asking them not to moan so much when it rains. Some of us like the rain and the dark and the cold. Walk outside in the snow and people are smiling. Walk outside in the hot humid summer and people are ready to kill. I have written a poem to winter.
i hate when winter fades
the security of dark evenings cease
i moan the loss of a breathtaking first snow
the bare sticked trees
the cold smoke breath
i welcome the summer solstice
shortened days
and long for winter to begin again
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Confessions of a "New York Times" Reader Wanna Be
Years ago, when I went to a movie that took place in New York, there would be a scene where the lead would walk by carrying a cup of coffee and "The New York Times." That set up my desire to be a "New York Times" reader. I had never been a reader of the "Times", I had never even been to New York City----but I wanted to be---and to go.
Years pass and the long unfulfilled dream of living in the city of my dreams happened. Now-- I can become part of the scene and pick up the paper that sparked my fancy. First of all it is more expensive, that was OK, next it weighed a ton, that too was OK. Next came the reading part-----what was wrong with me----my mind wouldn't stay on point. The sentences were long and the paragraphs longer. I have never thought of myself as dumb (I dislike the word anyway) but I started to realize that my mind did not work well at putting together long sentences. I can have deep and profound thoughts but have trouble keeping long wordy sentences in context. There are brilliant writers writing for ''The New York Times". But after many years I have learned that my mind works best with shorter concise sentances. I'm sad.
Oh well! I found the "Daily New" with writers I can comprehend. Michael Daley being one of the best. I still envy the "New York Times" reader. It's an immage thing. Maybe in my next life.
Years pass and the long unfulfilled dream of living in the city of my dreams happened. Now-- I can become part of the scene and pick up the paper that sparked my fancy. First of all it is more expensive, that was OK, next it weighed a ton, that too was OK. Next came the reading part-----what was wrong with me----my mind wouldn't stay on point. The sentences were long and the paragraphs longer. I have never thought of myself as dumb (I dislike the word anyway) but I started to realize that my mind did not work well at putting together long sentences. I can have deep and profound thoughts but have trouble keeping long wordy sentences in context. There are brilliant writers writing for ''The New York Times". But after many years I have learned that my mind works best with shorter concise sentances. I'm sad.
Oh well! I found the "Daily New" with writers I can comprehend. Michael Daley being one of the best. I still envy the "New York Times" reader. It's an immage thing. Maybe in my next life.
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