f r e s h s t a r t

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

 

It's a matter of what you value

When your time is at a premium like mine has this busy semester, something's gotta give. School dictates my schedule, and everything else has to fit in around it. I am not willing to give up time with my friends or play time with the dog. I can't really get by without clean clothes, and for the roommate's sake I try to help keep the apartment in a decent state of cleanliness. While I have to eat, I don't have to make the food that I eat.

Cooking. That's what I've been giving up, and what I'll likely continue to give up. There was a time when I would bake every weekend, take pleasure in trying new recipes, and looked forward to contributing to group dinner parties. It's ironic that I'm now living in an apartment with a fantastic kitchen (new appliances, marble countertops, huge marble island, and room for our kitchen table), but that I cook a lot less than I did when I lived in a place with a tiny, ill-equipped kitchen.

I honestly don't miss it all that much. When I do have the desire to make something, I still have the skills. I'm just more likely to want to take Henry to the beach than to spend that time cooking. When it comes to humans, this is also true.

A group of my high school friends is planning a get-together back in Michigan for over Thanksgiving weekend. I don't get to see my family as much as I would like to, but I see these women even less frequently, so I definitely want to make time to catch up with them. We've been emailing about ideas, and a few of the people who still live in the area want to have a potluck at someone's house. When I suggested that we get together at a restaurant instead (last year we did a bar), there were some pointed sarcastic remarks sent my way about my lack of cooking skills and something about my big city expectations. The defensive remarks surprised me. I have nothing against cooking or the people who love to do it. But when I'm going to be on vacation and seeing my family for the first time in months (while trying to squeeze in some finals studying), it just isn't going to be worth my time.

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