I have spices now. One of my favorite friends took me on a field trip to Savory Spice shop this week. She had never been, and she knew I need to stock up, so it was somewhat mutually beneficial, but I reaped the most reward. Not only did I replace my supply of herbs and spices, but I also had the benefit of her care and advice. She seemed to know that, since it had been six weeks since our house burned down and we lost our sweet dogs, I thought it was time to be okay and assured me it was not. She’s no stranger to navigating grief, so her counsel holds a lot of weight. Also, her delivery cuts right to the point and with compassion and humor. Once again, I find myself in awe of the rich friendships I’ve been blessed with.
Not being the spice enthusiast I am, she found it particularly amusing, hilarious even, that the first thing I reached for was a jar of whole Grenada nutmeg. She said something like, “You have nothing (in the way of spices), and this is the first thing you get,” then asked me how I use it. I explained that freshly grated nutmeg is really important if you’re making a bechamel or even just homemade mac and cheese for your family. She raised her eyebrows, smiled, and nodded, stopped short of patting me on the head, and we moved on with our shopping. She was a little overwhelmed by the selection; I was in my element.
It got me thinking, what’s your whole Grenada nutmeg? What creature-comforts make you feel most like you? I felt a lot better after lining my cupboard with the spices I need to make my favorite recipes. I still don’t feel like cooking much, but that will come back. (I may be a little depressed, it would be weird if I weren’t). I’m interested in your feedback here, though, because I think it’s cool to recognize what makes us all tick. You might even be surprised when you ask yourself the question.
What creature comforts do I need to get back to myself when I’ve lost everything, or I’m simply feeling lost?
Aside from proper spices, mine include warm socks, strong coffee, a really nice purse, and quality skincare products, to name a few. After the fire, these were among the first things I replaced.
Much love to you as we enter Valentine’s week. If you want an actual recipe and a really sweet Ella story, check out this Love Day post.
