If Tony wants to find his "Mrs. Anderson", he will. I didn't find mine until I was in my 40s and it was a great reminder that things aren't always on the OUR timetable. It's nice to read that your life seems to be firing on all cylinders and heading in a great direction :) All the best!
I love everything about this post, Holly - thank you for the gift of it. Your third question - gosh, this is exactly the right week for you to have asked it, so thank you. As a family we're working on this one right now. As for setting the table for someone who's not there - I've never done this, although for high days and holidays we do take care to include in our dinner table conversation those who are missing. It would be nice to take this further, though, so thank you for the great suggestion.
Love these stories and the symbolism of setting a place at the table for future and past loved ones. For four years when the kids were in middle school, we rented an old duplex without a dishwasher, so we got out of the habit of setting the table at all! We still ate together around the table, but we served up from the stove (avoided dirtying serving dishes we’d have to wash by hand). A good friend moved to the East coast this year -- she’d love it if we set a place for her at Thanksgiving!
One of my favorite soups to make is split pea. I make it with Italian sausage instead of ham (better flavor), and it’s stick-to-the-spoon thick, more like a stew. So good.
The plant world is bursting with soup options during fall - too many to isolate a favorite, so I will simply say fall soups…the category itself is my favorite...
I've never made a table setting intentionally for someone who couldn't attend. It feels odd, yet strangely cool and respectful.
Thanks for this beautiful post. It reminds me of how meals can be such healing, spiritually recuperative times. These days, I feel like I'm rushing through everything, so this is nice reminder to slow down.
Tell Tony that my partner didn't meet me until 39, and we're happily in love and enjoying life together years later. Mrs. Anderson is out there! It'll be worth the wait, as my partner says :)
You mentioned Elijah. On the night of the Passover seder we are commanded to drink 4 cups of wine. We pour a fifth, not consumed, that is left on the table during the meal. This is Elijah's cup. Jewish tradition holds that Elijah will appear before the final redemption. In a sense we are setting a place for Elijah ("Have a cup of wine friend. We've been waiting for you for a long time.").
We have a nephew struggling. He was never a shell though, just too high too many times. Maybe it is because the street drugs here in Israel are not as potent. Best wishes for your son's recovery.
I have never put out a table setting, but I do envision that I am cooking with my dear friend Julie when I cook one of her recipes. I have posted about that on my old site, but will likely repost that or rewrite it at some point. Your soup recipe sounds good, will have to try that. Sending prayers for the 90 day test! 💟
After several days of temps in the 30s (and more than a few flurries), we're back in the upper 70s this weekend. I'll take it!
I don't eat a whole lot of soup, but our station had a fundraiser for BCRF on Thursday. $5 got you a grilled cheese and a bowl of soup. I had tomato bisque. It might be my new favorite!
As for reanimation, my mom is pushing 75, but basically stopped living about 25 years ago. Never really left the house, no traveling, etc. She's out here now, and for the first time since maybe the mid 60s, has no one to care for, and no one to answer to. I had high hopes that she'd use this last chapter to just...I dunno, exhale? It hasn't happened yet. We'll see.
Such a great question....Am I returning to life? I think I am. It's teeny tiny right now, but that's okay. It reminds me of imagining little fairies who live in the moss (I have thought this since I was little) and that they were/are living this whole life that we "big ones" are completely unaware of until we live through a hellish experience that feels it will never end, and then there's that glimmer of hope.
If Tony wants to find his "Mrs. Anderson", he will. I didn't find mine until I was in my 40s and it was a great reminder that things aren't always on the OUR timetable. It's nice to read that your life seems to be firing on all cylinders and heading in a great direction :) All the best!
I love everything about this post, Holly - thank you for the gift of it. Your third question - gosh, this is exactly the right week for you to have asked it, so thank you. As a family we're working on this one right now. As for setting the table for someone who's not there - I've never done this, although for high days and holidays we do take care to include in our dinner table conversation those who are missing. It would be nice to take this further, though, so thank you for the great suggestion.
Baked potato soup and chili (with NO beans and several different meats) are always favorites in our house.
I make a humble soup with carrots, onions, celery, potatoes, salt, pepper, and some rosemary. Calms the soul on a dark autumn night.
Have you ever invited a real live lady to share the table with your pal Tony?
Love these stories and the symbolism of setting a place at the table for future and past loved ones. For four years when the kids were in middle school, we rented an old duplex without a dishwasher, so we got out of the habit of setting the table at all! We still ate together around the table, but we served up from the stove (avoided dirtying serving dishes we’d have to wash by hand). A good friend moved to the East coast this year -- she’d love it if we set a place for her at Thanksgiving!
One of my favorite soups to make is split pea. I make it with Italian sausage instead of ham (better flavor), and it’s stick-to-the-spoon thick, more like a stew. So good.
My fall soup is homemade chili with hamburger and kidney beans. I haven't had it in years though. I miss it.
Okay, I HAVE to see the Molly Ringwalds! Like NOW!
Second, good luck with your brother. My thoughts are with him and you.
Finally, lovely tradition of setting the table for those who aren't with us for whatever reason.
The plant world is bursting with soup options during fall - too many to isolate a favorite, so I will simply say fall soups…the category itself is my favorite...
I've never made a table setting intentionally for someone who couldn't attend. It feels odd, yet strangely cool and respectful.
Thanks for the suggestion. It's always my pleasure to write about Julie.
Thanks for this beautiful post. It reminds me of how meals can be such healing, spiritually recuperative times. These days, I feel like I'm rushing through everything, so this is nice reminder to slow down.
Tell Tony that my partner didn't meet me until 39, and we're happily in love and enjoying life together years later. Mrs. Anderson is out there! It'll be worth the wait, as my partner says :)
Just about any bean soup.
You mentioned Elijah. On the night of the Passover seder we are commanded to drink 4 cups of wine. We pour a fifth, not consumed, that is left on the table during the meal. This is Elijah's cup. Jewish tradition holds that Elijah will appear before the final redemption. In a sense we are setting a place for Elijah ("Have a cup of wine friend. We've been waiting for you for a long time.").
We have a nephew struggling. He was never a shell though, just too high too many times. Maybe it is because the street drugs here in Israel are not as potent. Best wishes for your son's recovery.
I have never put out a table setting, but I do envision that I am cooking with my dear friend Julie when I cook one of her recipes. I have posted about that on my old site, but will likely repost that or rewrite it at some point. Your soup recipe sounds good, will have to try that. Sending prayers for the 90 day test! 💟
After several days of temps in the 30s (and more than a few flurries), we're back in the upper 70s this weekend. I'll take it!
I don't eat a whole lot of soup, but our station had a fundraiser for BCRF on Thursday. $5 got you a grilled cheese and a bowl of soup. I had tomato bisque. It might be my new favorite!
As for reanimation, my mom is pushing 75, but basically stopped living about 25 years ago. Never really left the house, no traveling, etc. She's out here now, and for the first time since maybe the mid 60s, has no one to care for, and no one to answer to. I had high hopes that she'd use this last chapter to just...I dunno, exhale? It hasn't happened yet. We'll see.
Such a great question....Am I returning to life? I think I am. It's teeny tiny right now, but that's okay. It reminds me of imagining little fairies who live in the moss (I have thought this since I was little) and that they were/are living this whole life that we "big ones" are completely unaware of until we live through a hellish experience that feels it will never end, and then there's that glimmer of hope.