A special snowflake

The gang I work with has started hosting weekly virtual tea times as a way to socialize.

I have a reputation for being socially averse, so I decided to join as a step toward reversing that perception. Virtual gatherings are perfect for introverts because it’s a simple click of the mouse to be free from small talk – sorry, my connection dropped! Also, you can wear your pajamas which, introvert or not, is pretty awesome.

Everyone began discussing bread baking and the intricate and healthy meals they’ve made from scratch featuring ingredients I’d never heard of. I, meanwhile, have baked nothing, not so much as a bag of microwave popcorn (baking snobs, please don’t fill my feed with comments arguing this is not actually baking), and until recently thought quinoa was pronounced kwi-noah.

I decided I should be baking too, but hand-to-god I Googled “recipes that start with cake mix” because that’s as from-scratch as I get. I did find some awesome cake mix chocolate chip cookies, but like any true artist, I added it to my “artisan baking” Pinterest board for further contemplation. Art will not be rushed.

Watch this space for further quarantine tips and tricks, including step by step instructions for my eco-friendly strategy of using the same coffee mug for a week straight.

With love and a touch of madness. -Leah

An uneastery Easter

Here I am, Easter Sunday 2020. Quarantine Easter. Rainy gloomy Easter (at least here in middle TN). Easter service in my pajamas via Facebook Live. Chubby and pasty Easter, thanks to stay-at-home directives. Wait, that one is a lie, I’ve been chubby and pasty just about every Easter since my late 40’s (no, I won’t tell you how many Easters that represents, have some manners).

Easter is a bigger holiday than Christmas in my book. It’s the day Jesus performed his big trick of returning from the dead, garnering the biggest ratings in history.

“HE IS RISEN” – Jerusalem Times

“ALL SOULS REDEEMED IN GOD’S BIGGEST STIMULUS PACKAGE EVER.” – Christianity Today, Special Stone Tablet edition

“FAKE NEWS!” – Satan

I love the Easter story because we humans behaved like a mess of thugs, killed the son of God, and God responded by sacrificing his son for our redemption. It’s such a good story, so full of promise and hope and grace. Especially grace. Although I believe this story literally, you do not have to in order to embrace it.

Let’s say the Easter story is the best fairy tale ever written, nothing more. If the Easter story had appeared in Reader’s Digest rather than the Bible, I promise you it would be the most requested story for reprint, and be hanging on millions of refrigerator doors across the world.

It’s a story that says we are all worthy. At our worst we are worthy of sacrifice and love. Every one of us. You.

I know it’s a weird world out there today, that we are all sick of our own company and even the biggest introvert among us (that would be me) is feeling a little itchy to get back out in the mix.

In honor of Easter, through whatever lens you read the story, believe in hope and redemption. If you hang on to hope, it’s a short bunny hop to knowing that we will make it to the other side of this strange and terrible Covid journey.

With love and a chocolate egg. -Leah

Claiming my truth

Part of this whole being a writer thing is claiming my truth. I’m off to a slow start.

I drink my coffee in a way that can be best described as having some coffee with my cream. It’s such a light color when I’m finished that my daughter once thought it was white wine in my mug. This wouldn’t even be worth relaying where it not for the fact that I am a recovering alcoholic and white wine in a mug (so sneaky!) was my jam. For a moment my daughter thought the quarantine had bested me.

But, back to my profound truth. In a continued effort to lose weight without having to, ya know, exercise, I decided today to give up cream in my coffee. To rise above, take a stand, make a change, take my life back from the scourge of vanilla creamer.

I lasted 1/2 mug before admitting defeat to my husband and making the “I wouldn’t ask you to go to the store for something trivial, but this is important” face. Mercifully, we are early enough into our marriage that this worked, although I’m aware I’m living on borrowed time there.

Writing is meant to be restorative, cleansing, bracingly honest. Today I take the first brave step and announce I do not like my coffee black.

Watch this space for further writerly truths. I must say I feel stronger already. Feel free to leave your own truth in the comments – you’ll feel better, I promise you.