We Think We Have the Time ...

When I put the manuscript of my second book, On Artichokes and Scrambled Eggs, on the shelf, declaring it unfinished and perhaps irrelevant, I was sure I was doing the right thing - for the time being. I guess it was what I had to do then, in the midst of a major life change from living independently to moving into a “zen-inspired” senior community an hour north of my beloved city of San Francisco. I was in the midst of trying to piece back together what felt like a fragmented and anxious life as a solitary person. It was hard and it was painful…. But, here I am almost a year later feeling my roots sink into this beautiful Sonoma County landscape, my heart being nurtured by living with so many like-minded people. I have found some peace finally.

As I took a stab at another book length project about my revered grandmother and wandered through her long life in my mind, I remembered my “food book,” which I had poured a lot of love into, smiling as I wrote it. This is a book that reveals my passion for good authentic food and it comes complete with personal stories, historical information, bizarre anecdotes, and an imaginary dinner with some of my food heroes. Started during the pandemic it was a love letter to food and the connections we forge as we sit around the dinner table together. It is not a call to action - so needed in this fraught time - but a reminder that nourishing ourselves and our neighbors is vital to our wellbeing. So, yes, it is a relevant work. People around the globe are starving for different reasons, and in this country there’s a concerted effort to deny sustenance to those who are poor, unseen, and whose skin is of a different color.

I put all this out there to remind you that believing in the work that you love is so necessary, especially now. We all have voices that must be heard. And our time on the planet is of an indeterminate length. We tend to think we have all the time in the world to get that great new project done, but the truth is that this isn’t the case. As I get older by the minute and see the road ahead shrinking, I know I can’t afford the luxury of setting something from my heart on the shelf for future consideration. Now is the time.

People who have been reading my 2019 memoir Bowing to Elephants recently remind me that I speak in an intimate and relatable language about the human journey and this makes my heart glad. I remember hoping all those years ago that this book would move people, make them feel as though they’re not alone in their life journey…. And now I have the opportunity to complete this food book and again offer up my voice.. It’s a good feeling.

I will be continuing this blog journey, hopefully reminding you to cherish what is true and authentic about yourself, your thoughts, your voice. And meanwhile, I’ll be busy leafing through pages of another sort of memoir so I may bring it into being in a coherent and engaging form. I think I’m close… So, stay tuned!

With gratitude,

Mag