To Market with Alvin & Dinner 4 One

Secret #1 is to have a friend like Alvin. Someone you can text at 7 am on a Saturday morning to see whether or not he or she feels like braving the crowds or the weather to find something wonderful to eat or drink! And Alvin shares. Even more important. You know, buy a quart of something and split it. 

First we found coffee and a spot in the sun to enjoy it. Almost too warm. We sat down
at a table with a couple from Avon, NY. Margaret and Sam venture into the city to visit the Rochester Public Market on Saturday mornings to find deals and enjoy the mayhem. And mayhem it is. Friends, couples, families with dogs and kids and strollers. Market baskets bumping into each other as we jockey for position in front of one vendor or another. 

The smells are incredible. 

Secret #2 is to take those few minutes and share a table or counter with other
market goers. Chat about the weather, the news, our neighborhoods and most important what looks good that day at the market. Margaret and I got into a debate about wasting food when cooking for yourself or for two. Long since retired she pointed out that they don't eat as much as they used to. I had no idea. Watching my folks I guess I should have realized but I didn't. How does one person or two buy in the quantities available at a farmer's market and not have too much? How much can be made into soup or canned
or frozen. All three of which take time; lots and lots of time. The one thing none of us
seem to have. We laughed about spending Sundays making soup or chopping vegetables with friends and a bottle or two of wine. An idea worthy of consideration! 

Secret #3 we decided, was NOT planning ahead. The key to a successful Saturday morning was a bare bones shopping list. The rest to be decided by what looks good or what's in abundance or in season or ready to be eaten or can wait until later in the week. Be open to the possibilities. Try something you're not sure about. It's July. So strawberries are done, blueberries are making their first appearances along with corn and other veggies. Flowers are everywhere. My favorite part. I bought a CSA membership last year because they had an "all u can pick" flower garden. Too much food but I had flowers all over the house from June until October. I didn't do it this year in hopes that it will be better to enjoy the market every couple of weeks instead.

Secret #4 is taking the time to make Saturday or Sunday evening dinner. Triano's had these really nice 6 oz filet mignon for $5.99 a piece. The raspberries are beautiful for a little bit longer. Small World bakery had freshly made Country Multigrain Bread. A leisurely dinner and a bottle of Pinot Noir. Marinated (Wegmans basting oil, salt & pepper) filet, the first of the local yellow squash I grilled. An arugula salad with raspberries, feta, walnuts and balsamic vinagrette. Oh and I grilled a slice or two of that bread too. Just enough for one with leftover squash for a sandwich on Sunday afternoon. This could work! 

Five Days: I agreed to do what?

Truth be told, it's July 3rd (you likely know that already). It’s the start of a long holiday weekend for many of us. The birth of our country. Independence Day.  That's just about 18 days from dropping Bran off in Maryland. I've been settling in, sleeping less than I'd like (I think the house and kitty are mourning his absence and being extra noisy at night). Must be something I ate. Shift it off to the kitty I think. Yes, that works. It is sort of true.  

I'm clever like that. 

I've been getting a clearer picture of what life will be like for the next couple of years. It's not as if I don't understand it's permanent but I promised to help out with his "stuff" until he gets enough of a handle on things to either send for it or sell it. Take your pick. Somehow I agreed to keep the truck running - drive it, make sure it gets inspected, fix what breaks, update the software on his computer (aka, take it out for a spin every week too) and make sure his bills get paid.

Wait a minute. Where was I when I agreed to all that? 

What was I thinking?  

It's like being asked a question while I'm on the phone. You know that moment - when you hear yourself say yes, because you just weren't paying enough attention to what you were being asked and truth be told, just didn’t want to be bothered to figure it out. "Mom, can I - fill in the blank?"

Kids are sly like that. 

I love this photo. I've used it again and again as a training visual. I've a fantasy that I look like that. That I smile when I talk. Make everyone feel we're all gentle and pretty and everything is all right. Let's call her Grace. See those perfect teeth? Her nails? Hot diggity dam.  

HEY, I was BUSY! Meeting deadlines, in the training room, trying to find time to paint (deadlines there too), worrying and obsessing over all the little details that go into helping a "grown ass man" get enough of the right type and color socks and underwear to go off to camp. What? It's Boot Camp. Still counts. I'm not sure he'd given it that much thought either. Too immersed in his excitement and dreaming of the places that he'll get to go see. I don't blame him either.  

So the first week I parked the truck on the "inside" and used my car. Means I can't use the garage. I hate that. Not clever at all. So what's my alternative? Week two I switched the cars back and forth. What a pain in the ass! This week I parked the car in the garage and I'm driving the truck. Barreling along in that 1995 Dodge Dakota he loves so much, radio blaring, wind in my hair. Wind in my hair? Forget it. The air conditioning works great. Next week I'll park the truck in the garage (yes, well we'll have to see how that goes) and I'll drive the car. Same problem though. What a pain in the you know what! There's a whole other blog to be written about me and my feelings around parking outside when it's raining or snowing or too hot. This is not a good solution. I'll just have to keep thinking. Research my storage options at night. 

He has designs for restoring the truck and taking it with him someday. I'll bet that's not such a chore when you work on those ships. Did you know that close to 90% of the worlds' goods travel by sea? I didn't. Never gave it much thought. I'm sensing a theme here. How many of the things I do are not being done with my full heart and mind? How much have I missed? How will I catch up? 

A poem or a rhyme – an image of Horton the Who comes to mind, but it’s not I suspect, a moment to rest or to dig in my heels, so instead it's a rhyme and a poem from that heart. 

From “All the Places You’ll Go”

 "You’ll get mixed up of course,

As you already know.

You’ll get mixed up

With many strange birds as you go.

So be sure when you step.

Step with care and great tact

And remember that life’s

A great balancing act.

Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.

And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?

Yes, You will indeed!

(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!"

So, thank you Dr. Seuss. I loved reading your stories aloud every night. The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, I am grateful he thought to include me, I am.