I hope you are finding some quiet and peace and cool temperatures wherever you are. Today it was over 90 here in SF… not my fav.
It’s been a busy few days since we returned from the Pacific Northwest. We got home on Tuesday night and jumped right into cooking. It was nice to see some new faces and some of my Wednesday touchstone families on my delivery rounds on Wednesday.
Thursday AND Friday were Meals on Heels days this week. Oasis has been getting a ton of press for the fabulous Meals on Heels program and we have been thrilled to be a part of it. We got interviewed by a journalist from the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/.../drag-queens-deliver.../ ) and this week The Getty and The NY Times both covered Meals on Heels. It’s been pretty fun. A few new friends have joined our world thanks to the Washington Post (Welcome!) and we are enjoying our little brush with fame. Because of all this attention, Oasis has added a day of service, so our Thursdays are busy too!
This week the Oasis Special Menu is a return to our delicious Provençal Menu….Salade Niçoise, Lemon-Herb Roasted Chicken with Potatoes and Greens, Pasta Pistou, a deep rich chocolate torte and mini-Pavlova with Summer Berries and Cream. You can order from the Oasis site at www.toasttab.com/oasis/v3
Today was a bit of a low-stress day… after the last few days we really needed it. I slept in a bit and then met up with the group of theatre folk who keep me sane with our weekly zoom call. Went out to get a few grocery things for our own weekend’s meals and when I got home I sat down to dive into the paperwork and biz end of things. And started to get overwhelmed by the piles of ignored things-to-do. Ended up working myself into a little panic attack. Willi came to the rescue with ice water and calm discussion. We talked about how this food adventure has solved a lot of our need to be useful and occupied, but that the joy of my work in the theatre is still something that is absent. We talked about how I might find some of that joy… or rather what things in this new life could tap into the kind of joy that I felt in my usual work. I know one of the things that does bring me joy, is when I get to help deliver food to someone who has been gifted by a friend. I just love when someone purchases a gift voucher and I get to tell the recipient that they have deliciousness in store. And simply because it does bring me joy, we are going to continue our commitment to waive delivery fees for gift voucher fulfillment. That way, your gift goes that much farther!
Willi reminded me about another thing. When we started this adventure back in April, I expressed my desire for it to do three things. One, to find ways to connect with our community. Two, to provide a service for folks who might be struggling to cook all their meals, or to feel nurtured by someone else’s food, or to have some delicious options to the other take-out/delivery options. And last, to take care of ourselves and keep feeling useful and occupied. We have found a way to do all three. And you lovely people, are an intrinsic part of that.
I also had one other desire for the business. That it would provide me a structure to be more intentional about a daily writing practice. Which I continue to do, most days, and it helps me work through the craziness of this time. With you. We are all finding ways to get through… some days are easier than others. Most of us are dealing with a variety of challenges which in normal times (in the ‘before”) would be challenging enough, but now seem to have an additional layer of complication or require more stores of energy. I wish there was a way to invite you all to my dining table and cover the board with delicious things to eat and drink and invite everyone to share and laugh and cry and hold each other. We can't do that, but we can continue to connect in the ways that we can, continue to share good food, continue to be gentle with ourselves and with those around us.
For many of us, the fires in and around the Bay Area are unsettling, disruptive and exhausting for our systems. I am looking forward to checking in on my mom on Monday…all you West Marin folks are in my thoughts constantly. Please let me know if there is anything that I can do to make things easier for you.
For the rest of us, take care. Be gentle with your hearts and your bodies. Remember that this ongoing, steady stress is incredibly hard on our bodies and souls. If you need to sleep more, take long baths, cry, talk to your best friend on the phone daily, call your parents or your kids too much, lose yourself in a book you’ve read a hundred times… it’s OK. Really it is. Do what you need to take care. For me, I am headed out to that bathtub in my yard. The temperature has dropped d enough to enjoy the hot water, and it will do me good to relax under the night sky.
Be well. Hug yourselves for me. xoxo