MARTHA AVENUE-Day FORTY!
Forty days of gnocchi. Forty days of working out the kinks in our communication and making lots and lots of food. Forty days of navigating a new business while navigating this crazy "big sickness" (as Eleanor calls it).
Forty is the number of spaces in a Monopoly game board. Forty is the operative number in the saying, "Life begins at 40"
Forty winks means a short sleep.
Forty is the average number of weeks for a pregnancy term.
An Arabic proverb reads, "To understand a people, you must live among them for 40 days."
I would say that we know each other much better after the last 40 days. We understand what sets each of us off. That I am a mess if I don't get enough sleep, and I am a crappy debater/arguer. We know that Willi gets heated quickly, but forgives easily. We know that no one like housework. We understand that one of us is an early riser, and one of us likes to stay up late cooking. We understand that this endeavor is all encompassing, but doesn't define our relationship. We have learned that spending 24/7 together for months on end is actually pretty ok. And that a long delivery day gives me a bit of the solitude that I crave. We have found that it is pretty darn satisfying to have created something that folks are finding useful and nurturing, and that even when we are tired and grumpy, we are still happy to be doing this with each other.
We are still working on being patient with each other, and with finding the space and structure to deal with the business end of things without messing with the relationship end of things. We are still working on figuring out the rhythm of down days and crazy rushed delivery days. We are excited to have the support and love of this community and are looking forward to feeding people delicious food for a good long time. We are finding ways to be patient about our regular work, and the lack thereof, and to take care of our hearts when missing the things we used to do is overwhelming.
The word Quarantine, describing the practice of isolation to prevent the spread of epidemic disease, derives from a Venetian dialect of the Italian 'quaranta giorni' meaning 'forty days', the period that ships were required to be isolated before passengers and crew could go ashore during the Black Death. And here we are... more than 40 days into this quarantine... this "big sickness". I feel pretty grateful that our last 40 days have been filled with feeling of use. To quote GBS (and I know I quote this "quote" often), "This is the true joy in life … being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one … being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy … I am of the opinion that my life belongs to the whole community and as long as I live it is my privilege to do for it whatever I can. I want to be thoroughly used up when I die. For the harder I work the more I live. I rejoice in life for its own sake. Life is no brief candle to me. It’s a sort of splendid torch which I’ve got to hold up for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing on to future generations.”
Here's to the next 40 days, and whatever they hold. May we continue to thrive, survive, enjoy good laughs and the occasional kitchen dance party, feed lots of family and families, friends, and friends of friends, new friends and old. May we bring a little joy or inspiration or relief or support into your lives, and may we feel that as well.
In celebration of 40 days of business, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our website for MARTHA AVENUE FOOD. www.marthaavenuefood.comYou can order directly from there, or continue to reach out via email or text (cindygoldfield@gmail.com or 415.205.7365). Menu for Monday is also attached below. Orders for SF and North Bay will be done earlier in the day this Monday, as I am Zoom-performing in Playground that evening. Yay! Orders for Monday should be placed by Saturday evening.
I hope you enjoy good health, the self-care that you deserve, the love of your friends and family, the kindness of your community and the comfort of knowing that we are all in this together. Take care of yourselves, eat well. Be kind to your body and to your heart and to your soul. Hug your people, and hug yourself for me. xoxo