This is my first official Slice of Life post...of what I hope will be many more.
This weekend my husband and I went to the farmers market, for perhaps what might be our last visit of the season. One of the best things about Wisconsin and the midwest? Our summer sweet corn. We bought our corn, and then turned the corner and saw the sign for the one we've had before that we really liked, "You've tried the rest, now try the best." Love that slogan! Especially because it's so true. It's delicious, juices run down your chin, sweet bicolor corn that I wish I could eat all year. So we bought more than we can eat this week, knowing that we would be cutting some off the cob to freeze so we could enjoy the sweet taste of summer throughout the gray, dreary, cold days of winter.
And as I thought back to this weekend as we stood there scooping corn kernels into bags, I realized what we were really doing: saving the good stuff for later when we would really need it. And it hit me that I do that in many aspects of my life. It's more than just saving the best for last; it's saving those moments of joy or greatness or celebration for the times when I need to be reminded of them. Those nice emails from friends or family? Saved in a file. The kindest of the personalized signatures from authors I adore? Torn out of those books before taken to my classroom and kept in a file to be made into a display at some point for my library. Those sweet, laugh-out-loud, kind notes from students? Saved in a drawer where I can pull them out whenever I need a pick-me-up or reminder that they appreciate the work I do to help them be successful. And I'll continue to keep those reminders of the good for the times when I need the reminders. I'll keep the good corn and freeze it so it'll be waiting in those times when I can't get it.
I love saving the good for when I need it. On those days when I need a pick-me-up the good is waiting for me--in a notebook, a drawer, and sometimes in the freezer:) Friends gave us a jar of fresh peaches they canned this summer. My husband marked it "February 1st". He decided that's the day this winter he wants to taste sunshine. I'm looking forward to that taste of summer.
ReplyDeleteWisconsin corn, nothing better! Especially if you can savor it when the snow has piled so high and you don't know when you will see the ground again. We all have our happy spots that can pick you up when you've been worn down. Welcome to this slicing day!
ReplyDeleteThere is a Wisconsin cornfield in my yard! Literally. And cows grazing in pastures. I loved living in Madison, which has one of the best farmer's markets around, but I'm really enjoying my move to the country and farm life. Although my garden is not exactly up to the high standards set by the Madison farmer's market! In fact, I wrote about my garden woes today: http://janemartynauthor.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/frog-and-toad-my-not-so-green-thumb-and-a-call-for-help/
ReplyDeleteWhat an excellent comparison! I do the same thing. Always saved my favorite food for last as a kid. I have an envelope of those sweet thank you notes and end of the year notes to read when I need it.
ReplyDeleteWelcome to Slicing!