What I do is not a typical job. I don't exactly have an official title, my paychecks are random and my schedule is both amazingly flexible and annoyingly inconsistent. I have loved this program before, but find it a bit more complicated with a mini person around. It's not just the time management aspect. I have Hugh around who is an expectional father and so supportive that I am able to take the time I need to get my own work done, but it has made my identity as a mother confusing. Perhaps for only me, but our sense of self can be so key - so pivotal and nocuous if left unencouraged. Who I am as a worker versus who I am as a mother has been tough for me to fuse as I feel like society tells me you can only excel at one or the other. In short, only because I still don't think I am on the other side of understanding where I am in all this, I needed this book to come out. I needed all the recipe deliberation, days at the library to concentrate, emails to testers, and fights with Hugh over final photos to be held in my hands, to show other people, to see my work. I am proud that this is my job and that some days I allow my son to tear through all the kitchen cabinets to entertain himself so I am able to do it. This work is something to celebrate.
I wanted to share a few photos from the launch party we hosted for the cookbook last week. It was family and friends and a good handful of local SK readers. I had about four times as much food as I needed and I was so stressy my legs were shaking the whole time BUT I am so glad we did it. I had dear friends help me set up and sell books, my sister and her best friend bartend and my mom help me make it pretty. The Ecology Center is a really special place, they are doing great things, inspiring really, and being in that space felt just right.
"...When you realize that the story of your life could be told a thousand different ways, that you could tell it over and over as a tragedy, but you choose to call it an epic, that's when you learn what celebration is. When you see that what's in front of you is so far outside of what you dreamed, but you have the belief, the boldness, the courage to call it beautiful instead of calling it wrong...THAT is celebration."
- Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines
This party was possible because of a few very generous sponsors. Our local Laguna Niguel Whole Foods supplied me with the groceries so I could prepare a few recipes from the book, we served Seven Daughters Wines , House Beer and a sessions beer from New Belgium. I had bowls full of Justin's Dark Chocolate PB Cups that went just as quickly as you'd think they would while a few handfuls may have gone home with us. THANK YOU for making it possible to do this!
