Coffee Date | Fall 2020
If you and I had coffee...
We'd meet at my place because we have a lot of important things to chat about and don't want the distraction of the public keeping us from having our heart-to-heart. We would settle into the rocking chairs on the front porch with our drinks of choice and a few slices of homemade lemon pound cake. Today, I would have a hot peppermint tea because it's rainy with the slightest bit of chill in the air. Autumn is on its way here in the mountains. You can feel it in the early morning dew that coats the grass and in the silence of the evenings. It's the sense that almost all of nature is preparing to bed down for a long winter's sleep.
If you and I had coffee...
I'd ask how you are doing. The whole year really has been unconventional and so many people I know are having a difficult time, emotionally. There is a lot going on in the world and I often feel terrified that I can't control any of it. When it comes to the virus, I have been tuning in to a few virus researchers and epidemiologists to hear what they have to say. I need to know facts and data to feel like I have a grip on what is happening, and they are all saying that this will come to an end. That provides me a little comfort to know that we won't be in this limbo forever. I think that's what bothers me the most - the not knowing what will happen, when it will end, how much longer we will be floating around in this sea of uncertainty. In fact, that's exactly what it feels like. Swimming in the ocean in the middle of a storm, not being able to see or touch the bottom, and having no idea what is out there, coming for you.
And so, I'd ask how you are doing. Because I think talking about our fears is healthy and it helps ground us and pull our anxieties a little closer to reality. I'd want to know that you are coping well and taking good care of yourself. I'd want to know what you and your family are up to as we swing into a new season. Most of all, I'd want to know what you are looking forward to when all of this is behind us and our lives are a little more normal.
If you and I had coffee...
I'd ask what your favorite fall meal is. I have a collection of recipes that I keep in heavy rotation during the season, but I am always looking for new dishes to try. I typically make a lot of soups, chilis, stews, and casseroles, since most everyone in my family is a lover of comfort food. I have several siblings who do snow plowing during the winter, so I try to keep a slow cooker of something hearty going whenever there is inclement weather forecasted so that they can stop by for a hot meal when they have a break. This year, I'm also trying to make some soups and stews ahead of time and freeze it, since I just picked up a few packs of soup storage containers. It's the little things that excite me.
If you and I had coffee...
I'd share that I've been inspired by a friend to work on becoming physically stronger. She shared one of her yoga practices on her Instagram feed a few weeks ago and I was impressed at how strong she is after years of strictly power vinyasa. I've been defaulting to yin yoga, as it's easier on my inflamed joints, but I definitely want to add a few strength-building flows into my routines every week. I'd ask if you enjoy yoga and if you do it regularly. If so, what is your favorite style of yoga?
If you and I had coffee...
I'd tell you that this is going to be my final (for now) coffee date. Over the past few months, I've been shifting my focus to some new projects. Because of this, I discontinued my newsletter earlier this year and slowed my posting here on the blog. This summer, I decided that it was time to step away from the blog so that I can dedicate all of my attention to other areas in my life. There are some things happening in my family that will require more of my time this autumn, and I will be focusing on my freelance work, which will include the launching of a brand-new website dedicated to that. I'm excited about all the change that is to come.
I'd share that another priority that I'm having to put in place is a strong focus on my health. I've shared over the years about the chronic autoimmune disease I manage and the ups and downs that it has taken me on. For the last year, I've been in treatment for severe anemia. At first, my doctor thought it was just a regular iron deficiency since I'm vegetarian, but further tests and a diet change has shown that my body is to blame. Autoimmune conditions wreak havoc on a body, and it turns out, my immune system is killing off red blood cells and preventing me from making new, healthy ones.
It's been tough, staying on top of this. I'm exhausted all the time and am dealing with a multitude of other symptoms, and this is one of the biggest reasons I'm having to reprioritize things in my life. I have to make the best use of the time I have available to me, and my people and my work are what's important right now.
If you and I had coffee...
I'd probably shed a few tears as we wrap up our conversation. It has been such a joy getting to know you during our coffee dates over the years. I started doing these when one of the bloggers who used to host them, stopped, and I never imagined then that I'd get to cultivate such deep relationships with so many wonderful people. I count you as a dear friend and am blessed to have crossed paths with you. I hope that we will continue to stay in touch in the future.
Farewell, my friend.
