Learning to Make Lemonade

For most of today, I planned a post of random thoughts. But the more I considered those thoughts, the more I realized they weren’t as random as I initially thought.

Several times in this blog, I have alluded to how terrible the last six weeks of 2021 were for me and–by extension–my family. I’m still not going to write about that situation, and it’s possible I might never write about it at all. But as I contemplated those previously-mentioned random thoughts, I realized those thoughts were about the things I’ve learned as a result of that situation. So here they are, in no particular order.

Grocery pick-up is a game-changer. We are currently in our third calendar year of a global pandemic (perhaps you’ve heard?), and yes, I am late to the grocery pick up game. But OH MY GOD.

Through most of the pandemic, I have braved the (often partially-masked) crowds at my local Blue Big Box Store to do our weekly grocery shopping (Aside: I don’t want to hear about the evils of the Blue Big Box Store. Yes, they are full participants and beneficiaries of late-stage capitalism, but I work for our local food bank, and I can tell you we receive more donations from them than any other donor). But since the end of the year, and with the population in my household halved, and with little to no desire to leave my house, I’ve been ordering our groceries online and picking them up.

What a revelation this is. Not only is it a huge time-saver, but it also keeps me from buying things that look delicious (yes, I try to shop after I’ve eaten), but never get eaten and later have to be thrown away. Saves time and reduces food waste? I’m in.

Cooking for two is…challenging. But it can be great, too. Y’all might remember that I’m a Thanksgiving baby, and as such, I LOVE Thanksgiving food (most of it, anyway. As a picky eater, there are some things I simply won’t touch and others I just don’t prefer. Like those sweet Hawaiian rolls. What’s that about? Give me a cheap brown-and-serve roll any Thanksgiving. Actually, give me four. I love them). So, earlier this week, when my daughter and I were having leftover prime rib my son made while he was visiting, I made a baby green bean casserole to go with them.

Green bean casserole might be the most divisive Thanksgiving side dish there is. For every person who loves it, there is another who hates it. This is how it was in my house–two of us loved it (I bet you can guess which two) and the others didn’t. With only the two of us left, and with my daughter lukewarm on green beans, why not? It was delicious, and we will definitely do that again.

It’s not only that. The other night, my daughter was working, and I wasn’t really hungry, so I had cheese, crackers and a pickle for dinner. It’s all there–protein, starch, vegetable. I will likely do that again, too.

I found out who my real friends are. People have been so kind and compassionate to us, and I’ve appreciated that, and will try to remember to thank them all.

I’ve been surprised by the people who have been there and supported us, but equally as surprised by the people who said we could count on them, but whose actions demonstrate otherwise. And OH MY GOD the judgments! As I mentioned last week, our situation is one in which no family wants to find themselves, and unfortunately, there is no handbook for dealing with it. And yet, with nearly every decision I’ve made, there’s been someone there to pass judgment on it, because they don’t agree with it. Those people can go fuck themselves.

This:

That’s it. I’ve done the best I can, with more than I thought I had. And I’m a good mom. Somehow, I’ve always known this, and it seems egotistical to say it, and I get bashful when others say it. But I know it’s true.

So with that, let’s meet again here next week. If I’m feeling up to it. Make yourself a baby green bean casserole, if it will make you happy.