The Great Indoors And Why It’s So Important To Nourish Ourselves-- And Each Other

Graphic From "Extra Helping: Recipes for Caring, Connecting & Building Community One Dish at a Time"

So I’ve seen this meme going around about how “your grandparents were called to war, you’re being asked to sit on the couch- you can do this.” I get it- putting things into perspective to encourage the nay-sayers and anti-science loonies to actually take this pandemic seriously. But I don’t like it. People’s lives have been uprooted- albeit to a varying extent. It’s hard- it just is. The sooner we all acknowledge that, sit with it, and make a plan for moving forward, the better.

I feel incredibly fortunate to have a stable income working in public health, a supportive partner, kind landlords, a safe neighborhood to walk around in during breaks from “the great indoors” and the ability to video call friends and family. I know there are many people out there who do not have these securities or luxuries. I have not always had them, and know the kind of all body-consuming stress it can cause to not know what’s next. We all have friends or family who are already deeply affected by this. Friends who are contractors, musicians, freelance artists or work in tourism, whose income is now $0 and may not be able to file unemployment. Others who have been laid off and furloughed and can claim unemployment but are still facing the unknown. Then there’s the friends whose income might not have changed but they are suddenly caregivers of their kids (or a parent) since daycare and schools are closed AND still expected to work a full time job. Bless you all- you are superheroes.

For me, there is a pervasive sadness around most things right now that feels like we are living in this weird dystopian novel that I wish I could put down and pick up another book to read for a while. There’s the fear of getting sick, being sick and not knowing you are and being the vector that infects others. There’s the fear of loved ones getting sick and possibly dying, and then the greater fear beyond myself and the circle of people I know. The fear of healthcare workers becoming sick, hospitals not having enough supplies- this thing growing and growing until it eventually calms down. Then there’s just the day to day weirdness of things like going to the grocery store and the gas station, and cautiously washing hands and wiping down products. I’m reminding myself daily that it’s important to find moments of joy every day and support who we can- whether that’s emotionally or financially.

I’m reminding myself daily that it’s important to find moments of joy every day and support who we can- whether that’s emotionally or financially.

Since we write most often about restaurants in this blog, we’ve thought a lot about them the past few weeks. Restaurants already operate on razor thin margins. The people who feed us are often the most vulnerable. They are immigrants, making low wages, demonized by many in our government and deeply impacted by people not showing up, although it is so important for those who can to stay home right now. Since we’ve been sheltering in place, we’ve mostly been cooking at home, but we did get take-out one night from one of our favorite local spots- Kathmandu Restaurant, a family run Nepalese restaurant in Albany in the East Bay. We only got hot items, and heated them up at home just to be extra cautious. Honestly, we were grateful to support them, and want them to stay in business, like all these incredible local spots.

The people who feed us are often the most vulnerable. They are immigrants, making low wages, demonized by many in our government and deeply impacted by people not showing up, although it is so important for those who can to stay home right now.

There’s been other ways we are nourishing ourselves and each other. I’ve started growing food from seeds- tomatoes, strawberries, basil etc. It’s nice to have a project but it’s also surprisingly refreshing to just see things grow right now from something so tiny. It makes the impossible feel possible. We had dinner together last night while listening to a live “concert” from Lech, the lead singer of the California Honeydrops, who lives in Oakland. Their concerts have been cancelled, so they are taking donations while giving a portion to local food banks and charities. It was a reminder of how challenging times can create new ideas, and a chance to dance to one of our favorite musicians serenading “us” in our kitchen. I’ve always wanted to try making croissants, which is notoriously a pain in the ass, so I’ll be doing that too and making more recipes from my favorite baker- the Bojon Gourmet. It’s also the perfect time to read a book I bought a year ago by Janet Reich Elsbach called “Extra Helping: Recipes for Caring, Connecting & Building Community One Dish at a Time.”

My hope is that this time makes us more present with each other, not just in my own circle but I hope out in the greater world. Technology is incredible and so appreciated in this moment, but it doesn’t replace the real kind of face time, or how good a hug feels with a parent or an old friend. How often have I looked at my phone instead of the people I’m with or carried it with me out of security just to mask my own insecurities? We all do it to a certain extent. Let’s nourish ourselves, nourish each other, and make the most of this time in the great indoors. Do what you can with what you have, and help each other.

Let’s nourish ourselves, nourish each other, and make the most of this time in the great indoors. Do what you can with what you have, and help each other.

Wishing you all moments of joy and good health in these weird times.