Comfort Food

DO: Bake banana bread.

QUESTION: What is your comfort food?

RESPONSE: My husband and I woke up early Saturday morning to bake cranberry banana nut bread. We made one loaf with chocolate chips (for us and to share with my 10 vanpool buddies) and one without (to bring to Greg’s birthday party). Both loaves were vegan except for the chocolate chips. We brought the one without chocolate chips to the party because we knew some vegan friends would be at the party. We wanted them to taste it.

At the party, Stacy, a person we never met before (a vegetarian) liked the banana bread a lot. When she was leaving, I suggested she take some home. She was thrilled! She said “the bread was like comfort food.”

I love the term “comfort food.” I think of childhood and homecooking. Wow, just the thought of my mom’s carrot bread or Tita Erlie’s pecan tarts makes my mouth water. I can taste them! A warmth in my belly and a huge grin on my face always linger, long after the sweets are gone.

So, what’s your comfort food?

Losing Time

I’ve heard that passion is something that you do that makes you lose track of time. This morning, while baking the banana bread and creating this blog (ie, selecting a template, writing/editing posts), time flew! Maybe I’m on to something here…

It’s already 11:40 am. Am off to bring the get-well-soon banana bread to Tita Carrie. (I tasted a piece. Super moist! Hope she likes it…)

Banana Bread and Bonnie

Woke up at 5 am to bake two loaves of banana bread; One for me & Marvyn, the other for my Tita Carrie. She had surgery on Wed. to take out a cancerous growth in her thyroid. Not sure if she can eat, but I hope it cheers her up, nonethless.

My Tuesday session with Bonnie was insightful.

• About Mom: At my session, I cried for the first time since learning about my mom’s CLL. All of her chronic conditions were preventive, but not this. I bought travel insurance, knowing in the back of my mind anything can happen. Call her more often than usual, which had been about once a month. Weekly now.
• About Kevin: My guilt is in my control. There are no shoulds (ie, I “should” take him in if my parents die, I “should” take care of/parent him because he can’t take care of himself”). Why should I do the work? HE should do the work. He’s 34 — an adult. If anything, I should expect more from him. He’s capable. I did it, so can he.
• About work: Continue to look for opportunities, not emotionally invest at work (or else feel depressed/disappointed in myself).
• About transition: My life in Los Feliz was fun and spontaneous. My life in Rancho is not so much. I knew this coming in. But knowing and actually experiencing it are two different things. Of course, I have to realize that it’s going to be different, of course I have to adjust, and of course I have to be aware I’m going to feel a gamut of emotions — sadness, depression, resentment. But I also feel fortunate, grateful, happy, and in love.
• About creativity: Of course, starting this blog. Continue to cook my weekly new recipe or perfect a previous one. I started reading “Eat Pray Love.”

Bonnie pointed out that I flourished when I was removed from my family. I can be supportive — just from a distance so that I don’t get emotionally overwhelmed.

My life for now M-F is what it is. I have a job that’s 55 miles away from my home, hence my long commute. It is what it is. Don’t invest energy bemoaning or brooding. Invest in other things, like creativitiy, relationships, cooking, nesting and personal growth. 

I booked the airfare & insurance ($1700) and hotel, tour & insurance package ($1427) in the last week.  Only had to put deposit and insurance down for package ($512). The balance to be paid May.

To save up for the trip, am earnestly cooking more meals to bring to work. Marvyn deposits money in my account a little bit at a time. $800 so far. Less than three months until our Canada trip!