Banana-bread miracles
Let’s just say the past twenty-four hours were a bit of a whirlwind. No, I did not suddenly find out how to make Q-time (Q for Quarantine) move faster; but it was about this time last night I found out a change in immigration policy was imminent. As a foreigner on a visa in the US, it’s always erm… shall we say “interesting”?… to hear about that. Based on this evening’s information it looks like I’ll be ok, but check again in two months, will you?
But yesterday night I felt all of the wrong things, and I followed my own advice I happily dish out to others: don’t sit with it alone, and reach out. Many of my regular support network are early birds and in bed well before 11pm, but I buzzed a bunch of friends with a higher proportion of night-owl genes, and they popped up within minutes of me putting up the bat signal. I feel blessed. Before long I had a few quick strategies to calm me down: remembering there is RAIN, that things look better in the morning light than in the deep dark night, and that I should get in touch with HR. Before long the banter could start up, as I knew that I would somehow be alright, even if I didn’t quite know what alright looks like. I also fired up Minuscule and ate slices of that banana bread and went to bed way too late, but a lot less worried and a lot more stuffed.
Then there was more banana bread for breakfast. And a slice for elevenses. And for afternoon snack. And some more. I blame the crunchy top. (Still craving the crunchy, still not been to the shop.) As I was in danger of finishing it all, I decided to share a few slices with the friends who gave me the flour; and just then another friend asked if I could do anything with a pack of coffee. Why yes! I’ll trade for some of this yummy stuff! So I turned my walk tonight into a banana-bread-round.
It is cold out there tonight, and I felt a bit like St Nicolas (or Father Christmas), except I’d hang the bag on the door or place it in the mailbox, knock, and then step back to the side walk to wait for a quick exchange of greetings. It’s nice to see friends when they’re not on a screen, even at 6 feet distance and only for half a minute. It was the final step I needed in bringing me back from all of the emotional and mental turmoil of the past day. (I’m so glad I did not plan to deliver any new content this week, my teaching would be completely screwed up!)
And the scales? Hmmm defenestration is still an option, isn’ it? For the moment the slogan is “Diet another day”.