This July visit was quite different. It had been awhile since I've had a summer experience in the city. It was hot, sweaty and sticky. The first couple of days, I stayed in Jersey City to get my daughter situated and spend some long over due time with her Grandma. I have to take a moment to give all praise to this woman I affectionately still call, Ms. Stewart, after almost 20 years. She is retired and spends much of her day on and off the train into the city to take her granddaughter, Sole, to camp, karate, dance lessons, etc. I don't know how she does it because I was totally exhausted. I'm very much accustomed to LA living and being able to hop into my air conditioned car with my heals on, hair down, water bottle at my side and getting to where I need to in that fashion. On day one, I thought I'd be cute in my sundress and wedges. By the time we got to the train, I quickly switched out my wedges for flip flops and my hair went up in a bun because I was sweating like I had just finished two spin classes in a row. Hot mess! After getting the girls to camp, we shopped and then went back home to rest for what seemed like 10 seconds before we were off to Target for groceries. As I pulled the cart full of bags back home, sweating like a pig,tired and dirty, I wondered if I could do this day in and day out. After putting the groceries away, we had to head back out to pick the girls up from camp and that moment, my love for NY dropped to a "like".
I spent the rest of my stay in the city at Kisha's house. Kisha is Keona's aunt, my sister and great friend. I absolutely love her Upper East side Manhattan apartment. She previously asked me to give her some cooking lessons and help her prepare a meal for her friend while I was out there. I really didn't have any "plans" beyond that and was just going with the flow. While she was at work, I did a little walking around her neighborhood and then planned to meet her for a drink. She told me we were going to a get together at a friend's house afterwards, but I didn't know much besides that. Kisha is a breast cancer survivor. Over the past almost 4 years, I've heard about her "support group", listened to details about her treatments, how she was feeling and other things that I just couldn't really appreciate over the phone, 3000 miles away. I was naive and detached about it all. I had no idea I would meet an amazing group of women at that get together that evening. Even more, I didn't know the meal she asked me to prepare would be for the most amazing couple I would ever meet in my life.
We arrived at the most beautiful home and I sat at the end of a long table filled with vegan dishes surrounded by a diverse group of cancer survivors. You could feel the love in that room. There was a sisterhood like no other. I was in awe at how this deadly disease bound such beautiful women who otherwise might not even know each other. I felt so privileged to be there. I wished I could sit one on one with each of them and just listen to their stories. The guest of honor that evening was a woman named Jennifer. When I met her I remember thinking, there's no way in hell I'd look that stunning without hair. What a shallow thought, but for those that know me, my hair is my "thing". For those women and Jennifer most of all, living and surviving is their "thing". It was a special night to say the least. I left with feelings I hadn't ever recognized before and still cannot articulate.
The organic, vegan meal I was to prepare was for Jennifer and her husband, Angelo. The other day I was talking to my friend, Roshan. She's told me this before, but two days ago she again mentioned that I show my love through my cooking. If it's just a grilled cheese or a bowl of cereal, I love to feed people and see them taste and enjoy something I've made. It's very hard for me to give someone a recipe because I never follow any. I don't even think I make the same thing, the same way each time. I go with how I feel. When I've prepared food for someone, it's not easy for me to eat it myself either. I've tasted it so much along the way and in the end, I just want you to enjoy each and every bite. When you do, that is what fills me up. The meal for Jennifer was the first time I was limited to vegan only, organic if possible and no soy. I knew I had to thoughtfully season every layer that went into the dish and I wanted so much for meat eating Kisha to enjoy it. Most of all, knowing the grueling treatments Jennifer had to endure, I hoped my little meal would give her palette something to dance for.
Kisha and I went to Jennifer's apartment to bring the dinner. I met her husband, Angelo, and we enjoyed wine, talk, food and dessert with them and Janiece who I had met at the get together. I don't think they know how overjoyed I was that they ate every bite of what I made. I don't think they know that when I got their "thank you's" on FB, it made me feel good about myself and what I enjoy doing. For whatever reason, I always question my worth and while I always feel everything I make could be better, I was so proud of that meal. It was my favorite meal and while my entire trip to NY was wonderful, that was my favorite time as well. In TV terms, it was high definition, uncut, unscripted, true, reality. They have a strength that is immeasurable. I only got to spend a couple of hours with them, but that feeling, that time, is tattooed in my heart.
I remember balling my eyes out after watching The Notebook for the first time. I wondered if I would ever know a love like that and because I can be cynical when it comes to affairs of the heart, I thought it's only in the movies. This was until I met Angelo and Jennifer. I know every couple has their ups and downs and no relationship is perfect by any means. I also didn't get to spend much time with them, but from what I observed, from what I felt as an outsider looking in, they have that real, unconditional, true and deep love/friendship and I'm so grateful to have seen it. They have made me believers again. Through their fight for life, I have learned some lessons.
I'm currently healing from a broken heart. I have to stop and remember no matter the outcome the time we shared was special. While there are days I want to curse life out for being so unfair, I have to stop and remember there are people who are fighting every minute just to live. When, I wake up in the morning and dread getting ready to go to work, I have to stop and remember there are people looking for jobs who desperately need the benefits I take for granted. When I'm upset at the traffic, I have to stop and remember I am blessed that I have a car to take me where I want and need to go because just this morning I saw a woman huddled under an umbrella with her kids at the bus stop. When I complain that I'm fat and need to diet, I have to stop and remember there are millions of children in THIS country who are suffering from hunger. When I want to complain about the Christmas shoppers, the money spent, and all the hoopla of the holidays, I have to stop and remember that I have the most wonderful family and friends to share this time with and being able to spread love and joy is worth it.
Wishing everyone peace and blessings always. Please keep those that are suffering in any way in your hearts and prayers. LIFE IS A BLESSING.
I spent the rest of my stay in the city at Kisha's house. Kisha is Keona's aunt, my sister and great friend. I absolutely love her Upper East side Manhattan apartment. She previously asked me to give her some cooking lessons and help her prepare a meal for her friend while I was out there. I really didn't have any "plans" beyond that and was just going with the flow. While she was at work, I did a little walking around her neighborhood and then planned to meet her for a drink. She told me we were going to a get together at a friend's house afterwards, but I didn't know much besides that. Kisha is a breast cancer survivor. Over the past almost 4 years, I've heard about her "support group", listened to details about her treatments, how she was feeling and other things that I just couldn't really appreciate over the phone, 3000 miles away. I was naive and detached about it all. I had no idea I would meet an amazing group of women at that get together that evening. Even more, I didn't know the meal she asked me to prepare would be for the most amazing couple I would ever meet in my life.
We arrived at the most beautiful home and I sat at the end of a long table filled with vegan dishes surrounded by a diverse group of cancer survivors. You could feel the love in that room. There was a sisterhood like no other. I was in awe at how this deadly disease bound such beautiful women who otherwise might not even know each other. I felt so privileged to be there. I wished I could sit one on one with each of them and just listen to their stories. The guest of honor that evening was a woman named Jennifer. When I met her I remember thinking, there's no way in hell I'd look that stunning without hair. What a shallow thought, but for those that know me, my hair is my "thing". For those women and Jennifer most of all, living and surviving is their "thing". It was a special night to say the least. I left with feelings I hadn't ever recognized before and still cannot articulate.
The organic, vegan meal I was to prepare was for Jennifer and her husband, Angelo. The other day I was talking to my friend, Roshan. She's told me this before, but two days ago she again mentioned that I show my love through my cooking. If it's just a grilled cheese or a bowl of cereal, I love to feed people and see them taste and enjoy something I've made. It's very hard for me to give someone a recipe because I never follow any. I don't even think I make the same thing, the same way each time. I go with how I feel. When I've prepared food for someone, it's not easy for me to eat it myself either. I've tasted it so much along the way and in the end, I just want you to enjoy each and every bite. When you do, that is what fills me up. The meal for Jennifer was the first time I was limited to vegan only, organic if possible and no soy. I knew I had to thoughtfully season every layer that went into the dish and I wanted so much for meat eating Kisha to enjoy it. Most of all, knowing the grueling treatments Jennifer had to endure, I hoped my little meal would give her palette something to dance for.
Kisha and I went to Jennifer's apartment to bring the dinner. I met her husband, Angelo, and we enjoyed wine, talk, food and dessert with them and Janiece who I had met at the get together. I don't think they know how overjoyed I was that they ate every bite of what I made. I don't think they know that when I got their "thank you's" on FB, it made me feel good about myself and what I enjoy doing. For whatever reason, I always question my worth and while I always feel everything I make could be better, I was so proud of that meal. It was my favorite meal and while my entire trip to NY was wonderful, that was my favorite time as well. In TV terms, it was high definition, uncut, unscripted, true, reality. They have a strength that is immeasurable. I only got to spend a couple of hours with them, but that feeling, that time, is tattooed in my heart.
I remember balling my eyes out after watching The Notebook for the first time. I wondered if I would ever know a love like that and because I can be cynical when it comes to affairs of the heart, I thought it's only in the movies. This was until I met Angelo and Jennifer. I know every couple has their ups and downs and no relationship is perfect by any means. I also didn't get to spend much time with them, but from what I observed, from what I felt as an outsider looking in, they have that real, unconditional, true and deep love/friendship and I'm so grateful to have seen it. They have made me believers again. Through their fight for life, I have learned some lessons.
I'm currently healing from a broken heart. I have to stop and remember no matter the outcome the time we shared was special. While there are days I want to curse life out for being so unfair, I have to stop and remember there are people who are fighting every minute just to live. When, I wake up in the morning and dread getting ready to go to work, I have to stop and remember there are people looking for jobs who desperately need the benefits I take for granted. When I'm upset at the traffic, I have to stop and remember I am blessed that I have a car to take me where I want and need to go because just this morning I saw a woman huddled under an umbrella with her kids at the bus stop. When I complain that I'm fat and need to diet, I have to stop and remember there are millions of children in THIS country who are suffering from hunger. When I want to complain about the Christmas shoppers, the money spent, and all the hoopla of the holidays, I have to stop and remember that I have the most wonderful family and friends to share this time with and being able to spread love and joy is worth it.
Wishing everyone peace and blessings always. Please keep those that are suffering in any way in your hearts and prayers. LIFE IS A BLESSING.
