As the World Spins Madly on…
I
cook. And make neat little piles of
ingredients. When things start to get a
little wobbly or I am feeling like my world is careening a bit off the rails, I
find comfort in the rituals of preparing a meal. I turn on music and begin making my
piles. The process of breaking down a
bird and cubing potatoes and dicing leeks into orderly little bunches is
cathartic. It is an act, albeit a
transient one, that helps me reign in the chaos. I am an anxious control freak whose brain
never shuts off and I find solace in rituals.
Cooking is one of them. Painting, or making art of any kind,
is another.
I blame
the Greek in me. This is what my Yia yia did
her whole life – cook for others. She got
immense joy from doing so, especially when someone was in need. And so do I. When bad things happen, like an illness or
even a death, we Greeks post up on your doorstep with food. It is our way of showing support and love. When great things happen, like a birth or a
new pair of shoes, we Greeks post up with food.
Yesterday was one such day. I turned to this playlist and began my ritual. With each chop, the world began to slow down a little. Joy began to sneak back into my world. A lop-sided smile and another little pile was being created right alongside me.
sauting the veggies in the browned bits and rendered fat of the chicken - smells divine |
don't let this brown town fool you - such goodness happening here - especially when crusty bread is dipped into those juices |
I can’t always put Life into orderly little piles and follow a step by step process that results in a perfect little cooked up reality. But for those times when I wish I could, when I really, really need things to be in order and make sense, at least I can make some mean piles of food and cook up a really, really great meal.
You know what I will be doing when the zombie apocalypse
strikes.
kisses, mrs. V
2 comments:
Golly that dish looks good! I'm a control freak also, but I don't cook. Just clean! Clean the house every day! I call it PREVENTIVE CLEANING!
You can really cook. Wow, this looks great.
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