It is hard to believe that the end of the year is right around the corner. As someone who has been working (mostly) remotely, all of the days feel like they run together. There isn’t a demarcation between work and home like when I leave for campus during the week. There are good things to working from home that I really enjoy. Today I was able to test/troubleshoot a recipe for someone to see if there was an issue, and it timed out well during my breaks and lunch time. The election is over (and no more campaign ads for awhile!), and the vaccine for Covid-19 looks promising. Positive steps for sure.
November is a little sad as it gets closer to Thanksgiving. My mom passed away just before the holiday several years ago, and I miss making some of the dishes for her that she enjoyed. You have never met anyone that loved potatoes as much as my mom did. She would literally do a dance of happiness when I made her a batch. If you haven’t made potato salad for the holiday, give it a try. You can make it a day or two ahead of time, and it will be even better than if you made it that morning. The key to less stress for family gatherings is to plan ahead, and try to make some of the dishes a day or more in advance. In this year of the pandemic, the gatherings might be smaller or virtual, but you can still catch up and visit over food.
The cooler days and longer nights are great times to reflect on the year. What are you thankful for in 2020? Friends, family, finding a new job or staying employed? Did you learn a new skill or talent, or were you finally able to complete something you’ve been putting off? Me? I’m still trying to get all of my cookbooks cataloged and sorted. That will be my main goal over the Christmas/Winter break from the university. I am thankful for my family’s health, that my kids are doing well, that my husband is so supportive of my cooking adventure (he gets to taste all the food), and I have a good position at the college. I am really enjoying learning how to stage and film food videos at home for the local library, and might try to upload some on YouTube beginning next year. I just need to get a cabinet moved to the wall first (surprisingly, it is not an easy task to find someone to do it).
When life is getting stressing and down, try to find something positive. It is difficult for many people to stay isolated, but a little patience and prevention now will pay off. If you can, go for a walk outside. Bake or cook something, and share with a neighbor or family member. Grab a coloring book and color. Make a list of the good things that happened this year, and set your sights on something new and different for 2021. Then work towards it. You might just surprise yourself with all the terrific things you can accomplish.
One last thing, and this is a big one. Remember, life is too short for bad food.