#26: Simple Gifts

They are everywhere.

All of us are experiencing a time when the status quo of what we knew before, before being the Covid Pandemic, is upended. My life, and perhaps yours as well, has been streamlined and pared down to a slower pace. Some of this I like a lot, but I don’t like the reason why it has been pared down.

When writing Pie Camp, I remember asking my editor if it was ok to make mention of Covid. I wondered if by the time the book was published in October 2020, that the pandemic would be a blip, a mere hiccough, something forgotten like yesterday’s news, and any mention of it quaint. I think we all thought, hoped, and prayed that this would be over quickly. Oh yes, absolutely include them, she said. Thinking back, I could have shared so much more in those pages.

My pre-Covid work life was full of travel—sometimes on the road for up to five months a year—meeting up with others who share the joy and passion of baking together. Whether in-person or virtual, baking is a wonderful way to meet people and share stories. It is the best part of my job. It’s more than what’s in the pie pan. Yes?

Many have said to me how wonderful and exciting it must be to be an itinerant pie teacher, seeing all sorts of new places, meeting new people.Yes! Absolutely it is! The reality is more like packing multiple rollings pins and sets of measuring equipment, arranging for flour, butter, leaf lard, books, and aprons to be shipped to arrive at different addresses across the country well in advance of classes, getting to the airport— a 2.5 to 4 hour drive each way depending on bridge closures and ferries, (ah, the downside of rural living), and the stress of TSA. Once landed there is a point person to fetch me from the airport and drive me to farmers markets, produce stands, and green grocers for pie-worthy fruit and any other supplies that might be needed before finally setting foot in the teaching kitchen, and retracing the steps to the airport in time to catch a flight, plus the long drive home once landed. All of this set my travel anxiety arrow to high. Mainly on those trips, the sights I saw were airports, grocery stores, and kitchens. In the case of the photo shoots for three books, I rarely set foot outside of the NYC studio—in fact I slept on a cot in the studio so I could get up early and stay up late in order to keep up with all the pies and dishes that needed to be created, cooled and camera ready each day. So yes, I can tell you that without all that, my travel anxiety has decreased.

Later this week, I will return home after two weeks of house and dog sitting for a dear friend. It is wonderful to be here on land that she and her husband caretake, to see the beautiful gardens she has created, the sunrises and sunsets over mountains, farmlands, and water, to walk slowly, and to find hidden treasures around corners.

May you be so blessed to find such simple gifts as well.

Song for Today: Simple Gifts

Class Update: The Virtual Chicken Pot Pie class sold out so I added a few more spots. If you would like to join me on Friday September 24, 2021 for the 2-hour virtual session, the link is below.