Just Like That

Day 2 - Stay connected...to myself...no contradictions.

I wish I could say that I read a lot of books (can’t ever finish anything). I wish I could say I’m well-traveled (still waiting on my inheritance). Truth be told, I get my information from a limited amount of resources and I love, love, love anything related to the subject of food. That is why I watch an obscene amount of programming on the Food Network and some of my favorite personalities are the sex-symbol: Tyler Florence, the quirky enthusiast: Alex Guarnaschelli, and the culinary siren: Giada de Laurentis. I’m drawn to their passion for food that somehow translates (through the airwaves and flatscreen) into a passion for life. Life simple. The simple life - a tasty life, at that.

When I was young (probably 12 years old), one of my main chores was to clear the dinner table, wash the dishes, and wipe down the stove and countertops. My parents, already retired to their separate rooms, hopefully never heard as I hosted my own cooking show. I’d use the scraps from plates and pans and would create a “dish” that really spoke to my young imaginative spirit. Even as I scrubbed the Dawn into each casserole-streaked baking dish, with that dark green dish sponge and scalding hot water, I’d pretend that the world outside the kitchen window was watching with ferocious anticipation…they were engaged and I was giving them something really amazing, such as my very own corn and sweet tea tart with potato chip chiffonade. It didn’t matter what I was “cooking” with – I was having fun and I was being creative. It came so easily…God, I miss the bliss of youth. If only now that same task of washing dishes would feed my soul in such a satisfying way.

I digress…

My Sundays now are usually spent doing something at home with my one-dimensional foodies chattering in the background, making petite pastries or robust braised short ribs and pasta…My favorite is Giada. I love to mimic her casual, yet over-used expression “Just like that”. “Stir in the crispy pancetta…just like that,” she sings. “I’ll just pop this in the oven for 20 minutes…just like that.” Somehow those three words make every one of her movements so effortless, so undeniably intriguing in their ease and purity.

Hence, the name of this post. It is my hope that I can apply this simplistic principal to the enormous life-changing moment that awaits…I hope I can survive and move forward…just like that.