It’s been seven months since I had a gas oven.  It’s not that I didn’t give electric a chance.  Something about sliding pots on a ceramic surface is not my cup of tea – the one in the rental was the standard coil-top.  But on Monday my gas range was installed, and I am in heaven.  The teapot boils up in no time at all, and now it whistles again!  I know, it must sound pretty pathetic that I get a kick out of something like that.  But life is about the small stuff, after all – the big stuff is out of my control.

So, I have grilled polenta and fish, boiled and baked bagels, made fresh chicken soup stock and a great pot of chicken/chile/bok choy chicken soup, and baked cornbread.  Life is good, indeed, and I may never eat out again.  Well, I will, on occasion, but I sure love using that stove.  It would make my mother proud.

There are vegetables to be grilled, a pork tenderloin waiting to be roasted, and the portion control police in the background to make sure I don’t send my already high cholesterol and sugar levels through the ceiling.  But at least I am up and around, chopping away, cleaning up, moving around, getting outside for a walk to get fresh air.  My knitting is still handy, only my weaving has (temporarily) taken a second place to the stove.  There are 4 books due at the library next week.  But it will all get done, and I will enjoy the tasks at hand.

After so many years chasing the 10 hour a day corporate world, this simple existence seems like a dream come true.  I get to write on my blog.  I get to talk to people about things other than the next financial statement and whether the results will earn the directors their bonuses.  Now that my fiber arts article is published, I get to contemplate on the “next best thing”.  I have been looking around for volunteer opportunities, but nothing has caught my eye.  And I think that this is mainly because now is my time to heal, and gather strength, and build a road for the rest of the journey ahead.

Time to plate!