in November
There are many ways November tells you you can’t do it, beginning with the election days. Find yourself attached to a small item on the ballot, just a flimsy thing that seemed like a good idea, only to find it scorned by most of your state. It’s passively discouraging.
There’s also something unfathomable about a shift in weather and we worry we can’t make the leap. I’m missing the confidence boost of a larder full of canned peaches, a pantry full of preserved honey, or blueberry jam gathered in August. I can’t look at my pantry of pickles, the wood pile in the backyard, and say: yes I’m ready. Certainly in the past this would have bolstered a homemaker peeking around for encouragement, no?
And if you haven’t yet flown lightly over a grey, long, freezing week with everyone still taking naps and not crying most of the time, you might wonder: can it be done? Perhaps this why fiercely persevering peer-encouraged challenges happen in November, like no-shave-month or write-a-novel-in-a-month (NaNoWriMo).
So many times in motherhood there’s a new corner up ahead and a voice appears like genie smoke in our mind whispering “you can’t do it.”
.I couldn’t do it if she started sleeping badly again.
I don’t know why we set these parameters for ourselves but they fall into place before we’ve even noticed and then we’re stuck dreading the next change. Naturally we end up arcing over these challenges like fillies in the mud, kicking up our heels. But the genie in your head will never tell you that.
In the face of this shark-toothed-month I have mayonnaise to keep me company. I will never, ever, relate to those food writers who say “I can’t understand why people buy mayonnaise it’s so easy to make!” I can’t understand why you would make mayonnaise, it’s so easy to buy! Hellman’s and the American flag are inextricably linked as our national anthem for me. Egg Salad, call me back girl. Tuna melts, comin’ attacha.
Here’s a deliciously satisfying, nearly-evil snack, depending on your feelings about ms. mayo, that Joan and I eat whenever Lux is eating something boring like animal crackers. Chickpeas from a can, drained, rinsed and poured into a bowl. Dolloped with a spoonful of mayonnaise and sprinkled with garlic salt from the spice drawer. Microwaved for 15 seconds or so and stirred to a smooth sheen holding each chickpea within it. So satisfying and you’ll eat a whole 14 oz can this way.
12 Comments
Kac
You have the ability to express so beautifully what i blubber out like a hack. Expect a lot of texts and FaceTime calls this winter. Love you
Junglewife
Thank you for this! I also had a ‘you can’t do this’ situation in the past couple weeks that I successfully traversed. My mother in law lives with us, and went on vacation for 2 1/2 weeks. During which time my husband was also gone for about 8 days. Which means for the first time I was really and truly alone with all four girls. And the dog. And we survived! All of us! Even the dog! I was dreading it and didn’t think I was ready, but it turns out I was. I could do it, and so can you, momma!
Rachael Ringenberg
Good to hear!!
Ryan McDonnell
Rachael: Your writing is so beautiful and I appreciate your ability to be honest, despite our set’s interest in curated, best-foot-forward striving. We certainly don’t have it all together but we did ended up preserving more pickles and chutneys than we can eat. Any chance Caroline and I can trade you a jar for a glass of wine some evening? (P.S. I’ll start making mayonnaise until Hellman’s goes out of business.) – Ryan
Rachael Ringenberg
Thank you Ryan! We would love that.
Julie
Have you read Tamar Adler? Her ‘Everlasting Meal’ is a 200 page paean to (homemade) mayonnaise.
Rachael Ringenberg
I picked it up but didn’t get far. Actually that would be a great November read for me!
Julie
Her writing does get a little pretty for pretty’s sake, but enjoyable. I have a collection by her idol MFK Fisher that I’ve been meaning to read for almost two years. Someday.
http://this-american-wife.blogspot.com/2012/03/book-reports.html
bridget
I love mayo and feel the exact same way about it. Some things are better in big jars from the grocery store.
Rachael Ringenberg
You know all the good things from the grocery store too.
Bahar Orang
May I ask how you you edit your photos? They are so vibrant & lovely!
baharsdiary.wordpress.com
Rachael Ringenberg
Hi! I end up taking most of my photos on my phone now and I use the VSCO app to edit them. It takes some getting used to but totally pays off!