Day 11 -- Celebrated a Friend's New Home in Heaven
Today was certainly not about me. Nor did I have much time to be concerned about how I was feeling, and if I did, it paled in comparison to the weight that others were carrying.
A dear and sweet friend's life was celebrated on a beach nearby today. She was far too young, still in her third decade. She led an amazing life. She was a morally straight and very healthy woman who lived a life everyday, the queen of celebration. She was the mom of 5 children, 3 of her own and 2 through marriage, but you would never hear her describe them that way. To her, they were all her own and she took great care in living that out moment by moment. She was very, very dear to us.
So, the day revolved around this. Up and at 'em first thing, we dashed out the door to help our friends prepare for a difficult day. We were there to do whatever we could. We helped with all kinds of big and small details. My wife was holding children, helping in the kitchen, whatever it took. I was doing what I could from handing out parking passes to fixing a shower. The morning seemed to fly by but reluctantly, we finally could no longer be buried in the busyness of the day. It was time for the memorial service. We joined friends and family on the beach. The service was beautiful punctuated with laughter and tears, culminating in the release of many balloons sent heavenward with messages attached.
After the service, we all walked back to their home for a busy reception. When we arrived, there was more food than would be needed to feed everyone twice over. Some of those present knew of my fast and apologized and sympathized with my situation. But it was not about me. Personally, I remember thinking how much I would have loved to not been fasting that day. I love champagne, and there was plenty in excellent quality. If I could pick food that I would want to see at a party, well it was all there. And here I found myself in the kitchen loading food on trays, and staring at the vast array of extras waiting to go out when there would be room available on the tables. So, I drank water and focused on the dishes and contemplated on the much greater issues for so many here including a windowed husband of 5 children ranging from barely 4 to 14.
I knew that this would a tough day physically for me. So I came prepared with two travel mugs of soup and a container of more that I could heat or drink cool. We were there from early until about mid-afternoon. We returned home, a mile away, and walked in to hear our neighbors having a huge, and very loud, children's party, not really what either of us wanted to hear. My stomach was growling for more food and I was trying to keep my attitude from doing the same. Suzy came up with an ingenious idea. She warmed a large cup of broth, in a cast iron pan hoping that it would give me more iron for my blood, squeezed a couple of Key Limes into the cup and led me off to the solace of our motor home.
There it was peaceful and quiet. We were surrounded with a beautiful walnut interior and snuggled up on the bed to rest. The soup tasted marvelous in my mouth. The contrast of the citrus against the familiar and traditional chicken soup was perfect. Suzy fell asleep and I reflected on the day...that was yet to be finished.
Two hours flew by, along with another cup of broth, and we were back at the reception where we had volunteered for cleanup. By this point the party had thinned and those still around were clearly in higher spirits. We went to town on cleanup. I stayed stationed at the sink washing dishes. I wanted to have a toast with everyone else but knew that I had made a commitment to this diet. But not to be left out, I grabbed a glass and poured into it fully some bubbly to join in the festivities. It tasted great. The unfamiliar carbonation fizzled in my mouth. Yes, I had the best. Italian, like my wife, bottled in the Province of Bergamo in Lombardy, Italy, I poured out of the frigid green bottle of San Pellegrino the world's finest mineral water. The bubbles looked beautiful, I felt like I was "drinking stars".
After finishing the dishes, packaging food, and consuming a good amount of sparkling mineral water, we said out farewells and wished Godspeed to the remaining friends and family.
By the time we got home, it was dark and the raucous children's party had disbanded. Finally some quiet. But my work wasn't finished for I was nearly out of broth. The importance of always having some ready cannot be understated. If there is none ready, well, what would I eat? There is the emergency organic vegetable bullion but that was not something that I was looking forward to opening. So, with three empty crock pots, and plenty of familiarity with a kitchen today, we set off to work.
If you've been following along, you might remember that I'm not a big breakfast guy. I've been thinking of a soup that would have some breakfasty type flavors. Here was my solution. A BLT in a pot. Bacon, leaks, and tomato soup. I'm looking forward to trying it in the morning. Also, a ham and carrot soup, hopefully imitating a soup that one might make with the leftover ham bone at Easter. Finally, I went with a re-creation of one of my favorites, the spicy Italian sausage and red bell pepper and onions with some chili pepper flakes, but this time I added one jalapeno for good measure.
There was out day, after a quick clean of the kitchen, Suzy and I went back out to our motor home, lit some candles, and had a restful and quiet evening talking about where we would like to go camping.
I hope that you all take time to share your love and warmth with the important people in your life. One thing that I learned today is life can be very short even for the healthiest, like our dear friend.
Here's the link to day 12...
http://30daybrothfast.blogspot.com/2013/09/day-12-fighting-urge.html
