I love this! "When I got home, he said he had things to show me: a vacuum-packed wheel of Pecorino Romano cheese, pepperoni and salami, and several bottles of Chianti. It was one of my proudest moments as a husband." I was standing in your kitchen beaming right alongside you.
You had me at cacio e pepe. Especially with the changing weather. The fall makes me crave pasta. We keep saying we're going to make pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter but we haven't done it yet.
I was in Florida too for hurricane Andrew and it was unmemorable in Melbourne in terms of any damage, but I sure do remember how devastated I was for Homestead and the surrounding areas.
We were here for the 4 hour eyewall of Sally in 2020 (talk about compacted trauma). Then our neighbor's house burned down and almost took ours with it when the lights came back on. Driving around our community for months was very difficult to see the slow progress.
So much so that I find myself struggling to look at images coming out of Fort Myers this morning. Not having to know anything about what I believe or think about such devastation is a relief. But feeling solidarity and pain in trauma is something I don't know what to do with. It's so different from the empathy that normally comes so naturally for me.
Trauma freezes me up. I would never want to return to those feelings. Thank you for helping us ponder our response to such pain and loss. I wonder if others who recently went through a hurricane feel this way, like we're just having trouble looking. Whew.
I will say this. There were beautiful moments of looking at the sky without any power and without any light pollution and I will never forget them. I feel like the devastation is too extensive in Fort Myers for me to hope for such moments for survivors but I'm inclined to do it anyway. I hope that's not some kind of toxic avoidance. It's the best I have. 🌿
I think we all have sorrows that are harder for us to face, whether our own or others, which is why community matters so much. Someone will be able to hold one thing, while someone else will be able to lift up another. None of us is capable of doing it all or being present for it all.
In our house, we like pasta in all seasons. The sauces change, but our love for pasta does not.
You had me at Mexican olive oil! Thanks for the tip on ice packs and TSA. I just returned from Austin where I was gifted a $12 jar of pickles green beans and paid $30 to check my bag because I didn't want to take a chance. Travel food tips always welcomed!
PS: Have you thumbed through Food 52's Genius Recipes cookbook? Something tells me you'd enjoy it.
Jars of things are tricky, though, because of the liquid inside... I have forgotten sometimes, because I tell myself, "But there are solid things floating in the liquid." Once, I told the TSA agent she should take it home and not waste it, and she looked at the jar longingly and then said, "They don't let us. It goes straight into the trash." So sad.
Jeff please pray for me be patient with myself as I’m taking a class in spiritual foundations with the sisters of the Dominican. It’s once a month for nine months and is a five hour class. I’m reading a journey to the heart and holy longings. A study of the mystics. Thank you
Thank you Jeff. I always feel like I take a trip to somewhere nice when I read your words. And the deeper meanings stay with me. The prayer at the end is such a beautiful one that I want to say that as my fall prayer. Someone recently wrote about “roots and rituals” and so I bought a beautiful fall bouquet of zinnias and other goodies to put in my table/ alter.
What a beautiful blessing. Thank you so much for this. It is the perfect thing for this time of year and for this time in my life (we are leaving our church, moving, etc in hopes of finding a community that helps us grow in the direction we hear the Spirit calling.) I am trying to learn what to hold onto and what to let go of... and your blessing is a reminder to look to God as I sort through it all. Thank you.
Also, just wanted to say that I am always blessed by your writing. You have a gift, and I love your heart. Thank you!
Oh my goodness, so many touchstones of similar thoughts. Having prayed for friends in Puerto Rico and Florida this week, I am grateful all are ok (Port Charlotte niece texted "we did not die!"); downtown Naples, FL cousins thankfully have a second floor apartment; Puerto Rican friends are serving the community and doing mega loads of laundry...My dad used to live on Grand Cayman, but I have no contacts there now. I imagine it a mess, as is Western Cuba. I do find it a bit arrogant to think my prayers were answered when many were not. I don't know what to do with that either.
I have brought a flat of CA strawberries on an airplane. We almost got mugged by fellow passengers!
I am headed out to the farm where every tomato, spring bean, zucchini, hot peppers and eggplant is a treasure that may soon be gone with the first frost. I only had one good cantaloupe this season - the rest are rotting or not ripening. It is a delicate balance. I miss Colorado Rocky Ford cantaloupes! Our farm supports at least one red tailed hawk who squawks in annoyance when we show up to pick veggies.
My wife is in hospice after an 11 year struggle with melanoma. Prayers have been lifted but they didn't work. My faith in God has been challenged. I know all the promises. I just wanted my wife to be healed and to remain with me.
From a fellow Grand Rapids gardener (who is pampering a loaded Pink Fang tomato plant hoping for more time before a killing frost) - thank you! The past 5 years have been rough. A flash flood (they brought FEMA to my house to convince them to declare a federal disaster), a marriage and family torn apart when my husband walked out, then COVID. During lock down my community suffered two catastrophic damn failures and massive flooding. On and on it goes...
I am now remarried and have relocated my family to GR. I have so many beautiful things in my life but find myself still struggling with anger and grief.
I'm trying to let the spent leaves fall. (Just not my tomato leaves. Not yet.)
I love this! "When I got home, he said he had things to show me: a vacuum-packed wheel of Pecorino Romano cheese, pepperoni and salami, and several bottles of Chianti. It was one of my proudest moments as a husband." I was standing in your kitchen beaming right alongside you.
You had me at cacio e pepe. Especially with the changing weather. The fall makes me crave pasta. We keep saying we're going to make pumpkin gnocchi with sage butter but we haven't done it yet.
I was in Florida too for hurricane Andrew and it was unmemorable in Melbourne in terms of any damage, but I sure do remember how devastated I was for Homestead and the surrounding areas.
We were here for the 4 hour eyewall of Sally in 2020 (talk about compacted trauma). Then our neighbor's house burned down and almost took ours with it when the lights came back on. Driving around our community for months was very difficult to see the slow progress.
So much so that I find myself struggling to look at images coming out of Fort Myers this morning. Not having to know anything about what I believe or think about such devastation is a relief. But feeling solidarity and pain in trauma is something I don't know what to do with. It's so different from the empathy that normally comes so naturally for me.
Trauma freezes me up. I would never want to return to those feelings. Thank you for helping us ponder our response to such pain and loss. I wonder if others who recently went through a hurricane feel this way, like we're just having trouble looking. Whew.
I will say this. There were beautiful moments of looking at the sky without any power and without any light pollution and I will never forget them. I feel like the devastation is too extensive in Fort Myers for me to hope for such moments for survivors but I'm inclined to do it anyway. I hope that's not some kind of toxic avoidance. It's the best I have. 🌿
I think we all have sorrows that are harder for us to face, whether our own or others, which is why community matters so much. Someone will be able to hold one thing, while someone else will be able to lift up another. None of us is capable of doing it all or being present for it all.
In our house, we like pasta in all seasons. The sauces change, but our love for pasta does not.
So much to ponder and carry today. Thank you for sharing. I often pass on your link to friends. I will share your blessing with my group if it is ok.
Of course! Always grateful to have my words shared with others. Thank you.
What a beautiful blessing. Thank you.
You had me at Mexican olive oil! Thanks for the tip on ice packs and TSA. I just returned from Austin where I was gifted a $12 jar of pickles green beans and paid $30 to check my bag because I didn't want to take a chance. Travel food tips always welcomed!
PS: Have you thumbed through Food 52's Genius Recipes cookbook? Something tells me you'd enjoy it.
Jars of things are tricky, though, because of the liquid inside... I have forgotten sometimes, because I tell myself, "But there are solid things floating in the liquid." Once, I told the TSA agent she should take it home and not waste it, and she looked at the jar longingly and then said, "They don't let us. It goes straight into the trash." So sad.
Your blessing at the end is reminiscent of John O’Donahue...thank you for that.
Wonderful writing as usual Jeff.
thank you for that prayer.
Jeff please pray for me be patient with myself as I’m taking a class in spiritual foundations with the sisters of the Dominican. It’s once a month for nine months and is a five hour class. I’m reading a journey to the heart and holy longings. A study of the mystics. Thank you
Thank you Jeff. I always feel like I take a trip to somewhere nice when I read your words. And the deeper meanings stay with me. The prayer at the end is such a beautiful one that I want to say that as my fall prayer. Someone recently wrote about “roots and rituals” and so I bought a beautiful fall bouquet of zinnias and other goodies to put in my table/ alter.
Oh! That prayer! Thank you, Jeff. I need this prayer.
"I’ll always pick good eating over culinary purity"....great line! I might borrow it. : )
What a beautiful blessing. Thank you so much for this. It is the perfect thing for this time of year and for this time in my life (we are leaving our church, moving, etc in hopes of finding a community that helps us grow in the direction we hear the Spirit calling.) I am trying to learn what to hold onto and what to let go of... and your blessing is a reminder to look to God as I sort through it all. Thank you.
Also, just wanted to say that I am always blessed by your writing. You have a gift, and I love your heart. Thank you!
Oh my goodness, so many touchstones of similar thoughts. Having prayed for friends in Puerto Rico and Florida this week, I am grateful all are ok (Port Charlotte niece texted "we did not die!"); downtown Naples, FL cousins thankfully have a second floor apartment; Puerto Rican friends are serving the community and doing mega loads of laundry...My dad used to live on Grand Cayman, but I have no contacts there now. I imagine it a mess, as is Western Cuba. I do find it a bit arrogant to think my prayers were answered when many were not. I don't know what to do with that either.
I have brought a flat of CA strawberries on an airplane. We almost got mugged by fellow passengers!
I am headed out to the farm where every tomato, spring bean, zucchini, hot peppers and eggplant is a treasure that may soon be gone with the first frost. I only had one good cantaloupe this season - the rest are rotting or not ripening. It is a delicate balance. I miss Colorado Rocky Ford cantaloupes! Our farm supports at least one red tailed hawk who squawks in annoyance when we show up to pick veggies.
Thank you for the beautiful blessing. Cindy
My wife is in hospice after an 11 year struggle with melanoma. Prayers have been lifted but they didn't work. My faith in God has been challenged. I know all the promises. I just wanted my wife to be healed and to remain with me.
Thinking of you and your wife, Jack.
Thank you for that blessing and, of course, the recipe 💙
From a fellow Grand Rapids gardener (who is pampering a loaded Pink Fang tomato plant hoping for more time before a killing frost) - thank you! The past 5 years have been rough. A flash flood (they brought FEMA to my house to convince them to declare a federal disaster), a marriage and family torn apart when my husband walked out, then COVID. During lock down my community suffered two catastrophic damn failures and massive flooding. On and on it goes...
I am now remarried and have relocated my family to GR. I have so many beautiful things in my life but find myself still struggling with anger and grief.
I'm trying to let the spent leaves fall. (Just not my tomato leaves. Not yet.)