Tag Archives: food

The Gathering of Minds around the Campfire

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We search for our primeval selves in the summer: the gatherers, the hunters, and the farmers later in the evolutionary process. In the wild west we attempt to grow things in the heat, drought and horrific storms that destroy crops and shelter. And yet, we build again, knowing that this cycle will repeat itself, getting worse each year that we abuse the land even more than we have in the past. Many of us are trying to create a little sacred, bountiful place where we live. But many more of us don’t know how to start, or don’t want to because it is incredibly hard work. It taxes us beyond measure. We have to learn to persevere and enjoy the perseverance.

In this crowded suburban world, and the Door Dash quick and easy society, it’s hard to imagine us going back to working the land and creating something wonderful with our hands. And yet, some of us try. We feel the inherent need to grow things and watch them provide shade and sustenance. And at the end of the day, we get something cool to drink, sit in our comfy chairs in the shade of the gazebo and admire what we have created. When the air gets brisk, we may even create a small fire in our fire pit and sit outside to wait for the stars to come out. Our little mecca has survived the ravages of weather and time, and we grow to appreciate the skills we have been given to create this in our world.

It is up to us to take a break from our fundamental craziness of society, and explore the philosophies of life. It is up to us to keep the good parts of history alive and reflect on what we have been given. It is up to us to sit around the campfire and think about the state of affairs. Western writers have pondered this: “…How some scientists speculated that gathering around fires was the original unique characteristic of human beings. Not language or metaphor or tool use but the social circle, the gathering around the flame, the place where all those other discoveries were communicated.” “Yup, that’s right. Around the campfire you have a lot of spirit and it comes out in different ways. Kidding each other, serious thought. Singing. Politics, nature, jokes. Everything mixed, like you say. Campfires are a medium of expression all their own.” [Gessner, David. All The Wild That Remains: Edward Abbey, Wallace Stegner, and the American West (p. 99). W. W. Norton & Company. Kindle Edition].

“Campfires bring back so many memories of our childhood and most of them are good. In times of strife, we tend to go back to these memories to be at peace within ourselves. Campfires have provided warmth, light, fuel for cooking, and a sense of security deeply imbedded in our genes from our ancient ancestors. Campfires can free up conversations and you feel happy and free from the world’s problems for a quick minute.”
https://enjoythewild.com/benefits-of-a-campfire/
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-evolutionary-reason-w_n_6171508

So, now that we have had cooperation with the weather, and there is water in the mountains, we can get out, maybe go camping, or create a fire in our backyards. We can spend a night in the open looking at the stars. We can think about the world and what we can do to help it. And maybe we can be at peace for a moment. Reminisce of days gone by and good things to come. Relax for a moment away from the screens. Listen to the world around you in a different way.

But like all things we create (fire) we must be cautious and remember to use the designated areas to create a campfire. We must completely put out the fire! Rake, rake, check, and re-check before you leave the site for any embers. Drown it out and re-rake the embers. We can appreciate nature and protect it at the same time. No more human fire disasters!

Love to all on this hot, dark, and stormy day.

Grocery Store Madness and Impatient People

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Okay folks, I know it’s the holidays, and I chose to embark into the dark waters of grocery store shopping on a Friday night (hey, I couldn’t help it – 4X fuel points and gas is expensive). It was sooooo incredibly crazy out there today. There were two lanes open in the regular checkout, so it was bad, bad, bad. Holy Moly! I want to tell you one thing – old folks pushing old folks, invading my old folk space, to try and get out faster, that just does not work for me (and yes, I am one of the old folks who got pushed). I can’t move any faster to give you more time. You are just invading my personal space. And yes, I still have to check out in front of the credit card reader, just like everyone else.

And I am not going to go into how the drivers in the parking lot are trying to run over people in a walker, for goodness sakes! A whole lot of angst is going on right now! Really, it’s not the Zombie apocalypse so slow down folks! We will all get to where we need to go in time. These were definitely David Sedaris or Amy Sedaris moments. (Look them up. They are very funny.)

Quick facts:
Grocery shopping can induce anxiety because of overstimulation. Grocery stores are often busy, with bright lights, loud noises, and many people. This sensory overload can be overwhelming. Most researchers believe that it is caused by a mismatch or conflict between the various parts of the brain’s balance system, similar to motion sickness. Others believe that it happens when a vestibular problem causes the brain to rely too much on visual signals for balance (visual dependency).

I might have all that! I know my vision isn’t the best and the lights are harsh in a grocery store. And, I may be a little slower because I have what’s called Supermarket Syndrome. It’s the real thing! Sometimes I just have to sort through my list and coupons. I try to get out of the way of others. But sometimes there’s just no getting out of the way when it’s crowded. I also get a little dizzy and have to go slow and that’s apparently a thing, too! See the article listed below:
https://vestibular.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Visually-Induced-Dizziness-Supermarket-Syndrome_112.pdf

So all I gotta say to everyone. Behave! That’s not what your mamas taught you. I will do my part to be kind and helpful and try and get out of the way as fast as possible, but you gotta do your part, too!

I still send you good vibes and love, but I just want to say to everyone: Slow Down and PAY ATTENTION! Pay attention to your surroundings and your corresponding old person who is standing right there, in front of you, not moving for a reason, yet trying to move! Be patient and love the time you have at that very moment in your life. Hugs!

What We Treasure

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Today, I cleaned out the cabinets, pulled out the pots and pans I needed for the holiday meal preparation, and sorted what I could give away. As I moved stuff around, I found my old worn set of Pyrex bakeware and old cast iron pots. It made me think of my mother and when I went home for my father’s funeral. When my father died, I was sad that my sisters threw away so many things from their kitchenware, especially those incredibly old bread and biscuit pans before I could get home. My Dad did most of the cooking after he retired, but my mother had amazing meals for us when we were young. Both my parents had used the pans lovingly over the years. I didn’t have a say so and the oldest ruled what got thrown away. Both parents have been gone now for over a decade, but this memory still stays with me today. I reflected on why this came back to me today, and I admitted to myself that I would have liked to have been given the choice to have those pans even though they were worn and old. The pans that baked the bread were worn and caked with grease, but all I saw was flavor, not old greasy pan. What my sister didn’t know since she wasn’t a cook was that years of grease buildup gives the flavors of your childhood. What cooks know is that this is a well-seasoned pan, not a dirty pan. When you reuse your pans over and over with your recipes, especially the ones that have been passed down to you from your relatives over the years, you relive good times in your childhood through the smell of your kitchen.

It makes me wonder if my child would do the same when I died or if he would learn to cook all my old recipes with my old pots and pans. In 2016, when he was in fifth grade, he named me Person of the Year for a class project. He wrote about how I was a great cook and talked about all my recipe books (See Blog Post from February 8, 2016):

DANIEL TIEBEN’S CHOICE FOR PERSON OF THE YEAR

I am proud that he asked me if he could have my old recipe books. I will gladly give them to him. A lot of the recipes aren’t from my parents, but from magazine clippings, friends, and cookbooks I’ve bought and saved over the years. I have notes on many of the recipes regarding how I have modified them to taste the way I want them to taste. I have experimented with the originals over the years and found what works for me. So of course, I am happy that he will keep some of our traditions alive. I hope I have made lasting footprints that he can pass onto his family. I have hopes for the future where we value the old and worn, be it an old cooking pan or a person. I try and remember that it is the choices I make that will hurt other people.

As you begin to plan for your Thanksgiving feast and pull out all your pots and pans, think about what you have treasured and lovingly used over the years. Think about the pleasure and fun you have given to your family over the years. Designate what you want to save for your children and create a list for them. Even if they don’t value them (or your hand me down life lessons) at an early age, save what you think they’ll value in the future (not in a hoarder kind of way) but in a logical way for giving to the ones you love.

Thousands of Hugs to You and Happy Holidays everyone!