It doesn't happen often and when it does I relish it. Morrie invited M to join him at a hockey game. I arranged an evening with a girlfriend which, at the last minute, didn't work out. This meant an evening alone at home - pure enjoyment.I pottered in the kitchen. I rearranged a few things to give the kitchen a fresh look. I polished a few things to make them sparkle. The romance of Il Divo filled the airwaves as I prepared my salad and cooked salmon. Cooking alone in my kitchen is music to my soul. M learnt early on to find something else to do when I'm in the kitchen.
I set the table for one; lit the candle and poured a glass of chilled Californian white - a date with myself. The maple syrup drizzled salmon served with an arugula, pear and feta salad with lemon poppy seed dressing was a feast for my eyes. This is a typical quick and easy dinner that I like to make. It takes no time and it's so easy to do.
With Il Divo for company, I sipped the wine, savoured the meal and enjoyed the time alone with my thoughts. A week ago we had guests at our table enjoying the beef chili I tried for the first time. Despite my tension-filled run up to the evening (see Beef Chili with Cornbread Topping, October 2009), it had been a success. I smiled to myself when I remembered Morrie and Em's humorous interactions.
Em explained that she no longer buys expensive dinnerware or dishes as Morrie has a way of wrecking them, "like my irreplaceable Ming bowl."
"Which one was that?" Morrie asked. "The one I used for painting?"
"But don't touch his breakfast bowl," Em explained. "The one with sheep and the word, 'baa' printed all around it." Em packed it up in preparation for their kitchen renovations and Morrie was distressed that it wasn't available as part of his morning routine.
"I got over it," Morrie defended himself. "It took a week but I got over it."
I smiled to myself. Small things in life can unsettle us. For me, it's cooking for guests, for Morrie, it's upsetting his routine. I need to practise entertaining. It doesn't have to be perfect. Em is a fabulous hostess and I remember her advice to me, "Don't aim for perfection." Time together with others is what it is all about.
Em calls after 7pm. She's going to be home shortly and do I want to come over to watch a movie while the hubbies are out. After a time of soul replenishment, I'm game for a visit, to catch up with Em and their kitchen renos and to watch a movie. After all, time together with others is what it is all about.
