Monday, June 27, 2011

Chicken and Noodles

Chicken and noodles. That should make me feel better. I'm in what I like to call a frump. Some people get in funks, but I get in frumps. I'm grumpy, tired, and simply not my old self. While I don't normally subscribe to emotional eating, I truly believe a dose of chicken and noodles will help. When I have this dish, my thoughts go back to my mother and her mother and the wonderful food produced in their kitchens. My mother is still an excellent cook, and the women in her family could turn out the best homemade noodles you could ever hope to eat. I seldom have time to make my own noodles, which is probably another reason for my frump. I have so little time to do the things I enjoy and wish to do. Tonight I will settle for some nice looking egg noodles bought at the store.

Fortunately, the season is right for me to work in the yard and gardens, the best therapy there is for dealing with my gloomy mood. I manage to carve out at least a few minutes to get out among my plants every day. However, I could literally spend hours pruning, staking, pinching, transplanting, and fertilizing my plants, and yes, even pulling weeds. These activities calm and soothe me and allow my mind to relax and thoughts to wander. Peace.

I know I worry too much about things over which I have no control, but I don't know how to stop. I feel my life going by quickly, with so much left undone and the realization that there are things I'll probably never be able to do. Is this perhaps depression? No, I think it is just reality combined with frustration.

I do know that I can't figure this all out today. For now, I'll just settle for a nice dish of chicken and noodles. With any luck, my dish of comfort will be followed by a good night's sleep which will help everything look better in the morning.