The really great news for me is that I made it well into my ninth week of lockdown without opening a package of Oreos.
Finding a glimmer of hope and happiness seems to be the key to survival during this time, isn’t it? Celebrating the smallest of successes? Lucky for me, I also have a happy place I can go to, so Oreos don’t have to be my answer. (Besides, the package barely made it into week 10.)
How about you? Do you have a happy place where you can retreat for a physical, emotional or mental recharge during this time? I worry about those who don’t.
Cooking used to be my favorite therapeutic endeavor. For years, I recouped what I’d lost at work during the week by going to the farmer’s market on Saturday morning, then I’d cook away the afternoon. Frankly, it was pure bliss. And I still enjoy cooking, which leads me to my next question…
Who has all the orzo? Trite, I know, but ever since a friend introduced me to a great orzo salad a few years ago, this little pasta nugget has become a favorite. And now, it is nowhere to be found. Macaroni, rigatoni, shells in more sizes than we really need, ziti, lots of spaghetti, lasagna and linguine – everywhere. But where’s the orzo? And no, I’m not substituting red lentil pasta balls, chickpea penne, cauliflower anything, or super green rotini, and apparently, neither is anyone else because there is plenty of that to be found.
But it’s all good, because frankly, I’m in the quilt-making-soothes-my-soul phase of life now and when I need a lift or a refuge, I head to my sewing room. I try to walk outside every day and I’ve picked up my reading pace, but still, sewing is what really lifts me.
Early on during these “unprecedented times” (please, please, make that saying go away), I made masks for friends and family and when I was finished, I put my machine away and declared I was done sewing for a while – I wanted to focus on writing. But late one evening, I read a blog posted by a writer friend who chronicled the gift she received from hospice aides who were caring for her mother:
Then they handed me a small, twin-sized quilt, also made by a volunteer. “This is for you,” Colleen said. “A keepsake.”
The quilt broke me. I had held strong for weeks, cleaning up buckets of bodily fluids, being alternately yelled at and praised for things beyond my control, watching the most powerful woman I had ever met become weak and frail. But the quilt broke me. The generosity of the hands that made it, the unasked-for gift from a person I would never know and who would never know me, broke the dam and fat, hot tears streamed down my cheeks.
I cried for three hours.
I wore that quilt around like a cape, draped it over my shoulders as I sat vigil by my mother’s bedside, wrapped in the selfless kindness of a stranger. https://www.loriduffwrites.com/quilt-of-kindness/
The next day, I cut out a new quilt. I needed to be in my happy place.
Lori inspired me and the quilts I’ve been making will eventually go to patients having chemo at our local cancer center. Not looking for anything from anybody as everyone uses their gifts differently, but it has made me feel less guilty for not joining a local mask-making brigade. This week, I’ll finish my fourth quilt. What will happen next? I still have more fabric, even if I don’t have more Oreos. And I’ll fix a bowtie pasta salad for dinner – it will be just fine.
P.S. You may notice a slight change on my web site. I’ve added a section titled Carrie’s Quest, where I’ll be posting fun things about the book, lessons in the process, and what Carrie might be up to. Stay tuned – like Carrie, it’s a work in progress.
I’m glad you are back making quilts — and I just finished my little bag of Orzo — I need the Orzo salad recipe — I’ve only used in soup!
Thank you, Mary. I’m glad I’m making quilts as well. I’ll send you the recipe.
My happy place is always my sunroom and my woods of 12 acres where I am one with nature- the orioles deep diving into the oranges and jam I made for them in the feeder, ducks and great blue herons in the pond, and the breathless moment a hummingbird lands on my flowers for a brief moment. They sing for me and serenade in various tones. I watch 5 little goslings born a month ago waddle around our pond following mom and dad. I wrap myself in the small green care quilt my mother-in- law made me when I was sick. And for one small space in my day I am okay. Thanks Pam for reminding me of these gifts.
Oh Connie, thank you for allowing me to share your space. It was lovely!
Yes, I thought the same thing….would love the recipe for the great orzo salad.
Also – I moved my Mother off the farm and near me 10 years ago. I visited her almost every day – now she’s 99 with dementia and in a long term care center – and I haven’t seen her since March 11th. No visitors allowed and FaceTime and other technology options confuse her. Her nurse tells me she’s become weaker and more withdrawn. So I was in tears reading this one. Thanks for making quilts for others at your local cancer center.
Cathy, these are such trying times for people who have loved ones they are unable to be with or check on. Soon, I hope. Yes, I’ll include the recipe in my next post. Thank you for taking time to read and comment.
Yes, please share the Orzo salad recipe. I am currently reading your book, CARRIE’S QUEST, as part of my reading challenge of 100 books this year. I am loving it so far!
That’s such good news about my book. Thank you. I’ll include the recipe in my next blog post.
Thank you for sharing the raw, vulnerability of you and your emotions after reading Lori’s blog. I’ll also be checking it out! Stay safe, friend.
It’s so good to hear from you. Thank you.
Thank you on behalf of all the people whose lives you will touch who will be unable to thank you themselves. I promise you that you are doing immeasurable good as you measure the fabric for your quilts. XOXOXOXOXO
Thank you, Lori. I am touched.
Well I am still trying to find the time to find my happy place during this time. My husband is still working and now must work from home as he is elderly like me and we are ‘immune compromised’ and more vulnerable they say. So, I have become a semi-efficient secretary of sorts and in the lulls, try to clean up the house and make diabetic friendly meals. The laundry gets done, too, but often I forget to make the bed.
I am enjoying your blog and look forward to reading your book which just arrived a day or so ago. I have to finish my Mitford book first and then I will dive in.
Must say that after all these years, it is nice get re-acqainted in a non-professional setting. BTW, I am still at it. Put together a museum for the council at the White Lake service center.
Some people’s happy place is just staying busy, especially in service. I think that’s you. Thanks for taking the time to read and comment, and I’m so glad you bought the book. Thank you. Hope you enjoy it.