Coronavirus...Home Food

Breakfast

March 22, 2020.  Just a short update.

I woke up this sunny Sunday morning with a craving for the weekend breakfast my mother used to make. The yearning for "old fashioned home food" was overwhelming as I drug myself into the kitchen to make coffee and empty the dishwasher while my husband lounged in bed caressing his smartphone, reading the latest news.

"Home food" meant abandoning our more healthy approach to life.  I cooked up some ham and eggs  - frying hot to create lacy edges on the eggs.  Didn't completely succumb to those memories of homemade biscuits, french toast, pancakes, and waffles so there was no powdered sugar, warmed maple syrup or butter.  To compensate for all that, we popped the cork on a bottle of Proseco (it's wonderful to have a husband of Italian heritage), then ate and drank our fill.  Tonight it's his home food meal - pasta with mushrooms and asparagus in an oil and roasted garlic sauce.  Life can be good even in confinement.

My sister, Elaine, and husband returned from their south seas cruise cancellation.  They were stressed from all the change, but unexpectedly pleased with the manner in which it was handled.  Not only did the cruise line return them to their door (not just back to LAX), they offered a refund or alternatively credits plus extras.  My sister, sniffing a good deal when she saw one, took the credits plus extras.  They're now planning at least one cruise (Scotland and Ireland) with those credits.  Her rationale was clear.  "Well," she said, "We did New Zealand and Tasmania and had just started around Australia.  We realized that we'd seen all the animals, cities and sites we wanted so the cancellation was a blessing in disguise.  Just need to get through the next two weeks of self-imposed stay-at-home.  We're really good."  That's my family's optimism at work!

Other good news.  Like so many people we've turned to ZOOM video conferencing for family and friends communications.  The silver lining is that we're talking with each other more than ever before.  I've been calling friends that I usually just follow on Facebook or text now and then.  Somehow hearing their voices makes me smile and feel deeply more connected.  If we all stay healthy, which I believe we will (I too am an  optimist ), the crisis is bringing us together, not tearing us apart.

So, this afternoon take a walk, if you can.  Enjoy the day.  Keep calm, Breath deeply, and Wash your hands.  One day at a time.