Today, like every other Tuesday for the last 5 years, I picked up the Toledo Blade, glanced at the front page headlines, and quickly flipped to the Foods section to check out the feature story and side column. I used to check to see if any recipes I personally tested were published and how they were presented. My “job” as the recipe tester for the Food Editor was really more than just a nice little part-time gig for me.
Being the “recipe tester’ was like taking a college class called, “Expanding your Culinary Horizons.” Each week, I received a couple recipes to test, never knowing exactly what might show up in my “in” box. I was to evaluate each recipe on a number of criteria very objectively, yet realistically. It was fun, even when you had directions to prepare something you would never, ever choose to make on your own. I loved this job so much!
I can easily say one of the most difficult calls I had to make early in March after breast cancer first seared into my psyche was to call my editor and essentially end my own job. I knew that I just couldn’t do a good job of “testing” while also trying to focus on the cancer plan pre-surgery, and of course, I had no idea of what to expect post-surgery.
Now, more than 3 weeks after surgery, I can’t even lift a plate out of the cupboard, much less even attempt to “cook”. Of course, I haven’t even begun the hard work of chemotherapy yet. So it was with a little sadness today that I read the comments of the Blade’s new “food expert”. Kind of like watching an old boyfriend you really, really liked going out with a new girl. I’m a little sad, a little tiny bit jealous, and just wish I could “function” again.
When will that be, anyways? When do you get to feel normal again?
Now theres a question no one wants to talk about, eh?
