Things that you do for yourself
The first thing I did when I got home last night was to cook dinner for the family (and the friends who showed up). Chicken marinated in creme fraiche and Creole mustard, risotto with broccoli, and Arab bread. There is nothing like being on the road that makes me want to get in front of the stove and have a real meal. While you could eat out every night, or get take out, there is nothing more nourishing that cooking with your own hands, eyes, nose, and mouth. (Note to self, teach my niece to cook.)
The next thing I did was pick up all of the stuff that exploded from my suitcase as I had packed like a peasant preparing for winter. I came home with notes here, a new calendar there, and receipts and dirty clothes galore. No one can unpack for you, or clean up your stuff. Make a note of it, you have to clean up your own crap. (Note to self, teach this important rule to my child.)
Then I thought about my garden, the one I intend to plant this summer as I’m sick of having a patch of grass in back simply for the dogs to use the bathroom. We want vegetables and herbs and something useful. So I’m meeting with a woman who has designed community gardens throughout the city to figure out how best to do just that. It is all part of my austerity program and of getting closer to living off the land. Plus there is something wonderful to watch things grow from the earth – to move from garden to table and nourish your body with something you have produced yourself. (Note to self, a lesson to all.)
So today when I was sorting through some guidelines for a future project and I came across this quote:
“…thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.”, Leviticus 19:18
In thinking about all these things that keep me centered, I was reminded that nourishing my interior self, also allows me to enjoy the external world in a greater way. After all, a garden gives bounty to the neighborhood as well as provides plentiful food to feed friends who drop by by.
Today, by the grace of the good luck I received in having my neighbors – we received a Mardi Gras starter kit left by the front door! Laissez les bon temps rouler. Happy Mardi Gras.
