Thursday, October 8, 2009

Painted Skies and Pie

I've been feeling a little despondent lately. You may (or may not - how self-centered am I, anyway?) have noticed my absence in the blogoshpere - I've just been sort of feeling like I have nothing to contribute. Not just in the blogosphere, in the whole general scheme of things. One thing a few weeks out of commission will teach you (you, in this case, being me - but I think the lesson transcends my personal experience) is that the world keeps spinning without you. It spins quite nicely, matter of fact. The sun remembers to rise and set. Dramas continue to unfold. You might be missed, but not much, and not for long. The place you held in people's days and thoughts is quickly filled in. It's the whole pulling your hand out of a bucket of water thing.

Sigh.

So that's where I've been.

But this morning, I had to take Liv to band practice. (Now don't say, "See? Someone needs you!" because if I hadn't been able to take her, arrangements could have easily been made. I'm way over myself.) I like taking her to practice at this time of year, because from the time I leave my house to the time I return, the sun rises (as it always remembers to do). Those of you who have been with me any length of time know that that is my absolutely favorite part of the day. Even if the sunrise is nothing more spectacular than the transition from dark to light, there's still just something hopeful and wonderful about it.

This morning's sunrise was more spectacular than a transition from dark to light.

We left the garage in almost complete blackness. In the fifteen minutes it took us to get to her school, we watched the sky take on cotton candy hues we laughingly described as scrumptious. Liv pointed out that she'd never thought about eating the clouds before, but today it looked like a swell idea. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs? How about Cotton Candy with a Chance of Pie? We watched the colors shift before our eyes - it was quite a show. It continued after I dropped her off with our usual exchange:

"Have a great day, love you!"

"Love you too!"

"Always happy, happy!"

"Never crappy, crappy!"

I know, my life is just one big Hallmark card. I apologize to those I've made jealous by sharing this heart-melting daily exchange. Not everyone can be as eloquent and poetic as Liv and I.

Anyway.

So I dropped her off and continued to the McDonald's drive through because it's Monopoly season, ya'll home. By the time I pulled into my garage again, it was full-on day. No remnants of the cotton candy sky remained. All blue and white and bright. The transition was over.

I'd made it through.

Now what does this all have to do with pie? Well, not a damn thing, actually. Except that pie has been on my mind (and the minds of everyone I know, apparently) recently. Everywhere I turn, it seems, someone is talking about pie. And if you're reading this and thinking, "Oh! She's talking about me!" you're probably right - but I'm talking about somebody else, too. Pie talk has been everywhere I go. I do not hate this. I do not even mildly dislike this. Come on! Who doesn't like pie? Bye, bye Miss American Pie. (No! come back!) Pie, pie, me oh my. She's my cherry pie... (okay, maybe that one didn't fit quite as well...but come on...tastes so good makes a grown man cry - sweet cherry pie...) So, yeah, everyone's talking (and I'm singing) about pie.

My mom makes an excellent pie. (It's the law or something. Baseball. Hot Dogs. Mom. Apple Pie...) Her cream pies are good, but her fruit pies are to die for. I was well into high school before I realized that most people do not serve 1/4 of a pie and call it a slice. (And I have a weight problem! Go figure!) We had pie several times a week. Pie for breakfast was no big treat - we had that at least twice a month. MmmmmMmmmmmMmmmm - Mom's pie. The thing is, I don't make many pies myself because of this. I know mine would never be as good as hers, so I don't even try. I ask her to make me a pie when I go home to visit, and it's a treat, and that's that.

But one day, when I was living faaaaaaaaar from home. (With Shrek, in Far, Far Away...) I decided it was time to give it a shot. I called my mom and asked for the secret to her amazing pie crusts. She hemmed and hawed for a few minutes, then said, "Tammy, I haven't made a pie crust in years. I used to, but the roll out ones they make now are just as good with no guess work and no gambling." I was aghast. Mom's amazing crust came from the refrigerator section of my local grocery store? And I hadn't even noticed the transition - which must mean that it actually WAS just as good...

But you know what? Even with that little bit of knowledge under my belt, my pies still aren't as good as hers. Maybe I haven't been a mom long enough. Or maybe you have to know how to do it right before you start taking short cuts.

But homemade or bakery bought, one way or another, I'll be having a hunk of pie today.

Always (well, usually, anyway) happy, happy, ya'll.

27 comments:

Liz Mays said...

And reading your blog posts is like a hunk of pie for me. :)

Housewife Savant said...

The world DID continue to spin while you couched, but there was a Tammy-shaped hole for sure.
I love pie.
I hate that you talked about pie, like someone singing an annoying song that'll bounce around in my head all day.
Pie...
I love pie...
Curse pie...

Cassie said...

Happy Happy to you too Tammy. Marie Calendar makes an AWESOME dutch apple pie. It is so good you may just eat the whole thing yourself. Not that I've done that or anything :o) Plus it's in the freezer section and so easy to "bake"

Badass Geek said...

I just may have pie for dinner tonight, because of this post.

AiringMyLaundry said...

Yum, pie.

I've been craving some fresh baked pie.

Normally I cheat and buy the kinds that are already made.

Joanna Jenkins said...

"....we watched the sky take on cotton candy hues we laughingly described as scrumptious....." What a way with words. Love that.

And then I got to the bottom and read...."I'll be having a hunk of pie today." I never used the word "hunk" with pie before but it has a nice ring to it. I'm off to get me a hunk of pie too!

Bon Appetite!
xo

Unknown said...

Ok, I was feeling good about the sunrise, hoping you are feeling a more "part" of what keeps the world spinning round and round, and then you hit me with PIE!.........as in making,eating, craving.......PIE.
You know I'm not doing it, you know I'm working on the low carb/low fat, healthier lifestyle me............
so why did you plant the word pie in there?
love you!

Savvy-Motherhood said...

Have a hunk of pie for me would ya? I am dieting for the holidays so I can actually EAT in the next few months.

Brandy said...

If you like sunrises (& I'm pretty sure you do!) you will love my post today. I too LOVE to see the sky when it's orange, pink and all colors brilliant.

Mmmmmmmmm pie. Now I need some pie.

Macey said...

I love the Never crappy, crappy! How cute is that?!
Now I want pie. Go to your mom's house and see if she'll offer you pie. And then tell her NO. And then she'll offer again and again and just finally go get it. And she'll grumble all the way there about how nobody can get their own pie. Does that make any sense? I'm drawing from my memory of an older post. :)

JennyMac said...

You are awesome. I think you have such a great personality: diverse, interesting, and you really care about people...

and the hallmark-esque jingle made me smile.

Sending you a "Shake your moneymaker and keep despondency at bay" cocktail.

Stesha said...

Hallmark cards are the best, I wish I could read one everyday:)

Hugs and Mocha,
Stesha

Tracie said...

Yes, I did notice your absence. And I'm glad that you're back. You have quite a way with words, my friend.

Now, I'm going to have to look at that disturbing pic on Stir-Fry in order to stop craving pie.

Hit 40 said...

I also have been stumped for a really funny story for everyone for a while. Just too busy with school to ponder the humor in life.

I might have to try a frozen pie crust. I always make mine from scratch with my food processor. I make a macadamia nut crust for my key lime pie. Very good!

Very cool that your kid does the band thing too!! Marching band practice keeps going on and on...

Anonymous said...

I call those days you've been having UCDs...Under the Cover Days. They're rough. I'm glad you got out of bed and wrote a post...about pie no less! today!!

Carma Sez said...

I've been in a bit of a blog funk lately too; I am still quite sure that the only people who read blogs are bloggers who are commenting on each other's blogs; stop commenting and there is nothing but dead silence. Unless you are of Dooce or Pioneer Woman ilk, which I will never be *sigh* happy, happy!

La Mere Joie said...

I have been quiet too, but only out of sheer exhaustion! I stay up way too late to post and read other blogs! Anyway, glad you are back. What a nice story! I made an apple pie, and it looked beautiful but as soon as we cut into it and saw the swimming pool, we knew it wasn't good. I forgot to add the tapioca/flour. They were drowned apples. Oh well. I will stick to crumb fruit pies. I think I want pie now.

Kandi said...

About 5 months ago, there was a blogger who was new to the blogging thing. She posted for a while and then just disappeared. To this day, I still wonder what happened to her. It is your perception that no one cares. We all notice when someone goes away.

Mama-Face said...

wha...who's been talking about pie? I missed that train.

Anywho...you are loved, loved, loved! What a sweet exchange with your daughter. Happy/crappy. May have to steal that one.

The needing thing...very much on my mind lately. You'll see why someday soon. I hope....... :)

SparkleFarkel said...

Thank you for sharing a slice of family dessert, and remember to always make a wish before eating the pie point!

BONNIE K said...

I hope your pie gets you out of your funk. I've only made a few pies in my life but I want to be one of those ladies who whips up amazing pies effortlessly. I'm not there yet.

Jennifer C. Valerie said...

Hi,
Stopped by via SITS to visit. You were on roll call just above me. Enjoy your weekend.

The Grown-Up Child said...

What a cute exchange with your daughter! I hope to have moments like that in the future too.

I think with pie, everyone else's always taste better just because we didn't have to make them. At least, that's what I tell myself anyway. ;)

*Ahem* And hey, you always have something to contribute here in bloggyland.

Stacy Uncorked said...

Mmmmmm....pie! Now I'm hungry for pie. Love the description of the sunrise with your daughter...and love the little lovey exchange!

I bet your pies are as good as your mom's pies - you just personally don't think so. Everything tastes better when someone else makes it - even a simple ham and cheese sandwich will taste like perfection when someone else makes it. I bet your daughter will think the same thing about your pies when she grows up, too. :)

Gibby said...

I always love the titles of your posts. I think I am going to send you my posts before I publish and have you write all my titles. For free, of course. :)

Sandy said...

I would have loved to be in the back seat of the car with you.

Don't be so sure you weren't missed.

I can't make pie crust. Paul's favorite dessert is pie. Years ago I told him I couldn't make a crust. He wouldn't believe me. He sat and watched me ruin 3 batches before he conceded that I can't make pie crust. So it's Pillsbury crust in this house, too, when I do make a pie. Which ain't often. He'll eat storebought.

Swine said...

Tammy, I love sunrise. But I haven't seen it in years. I'm so lame. Thanks for making sure it not only exists, but still manages to inspire the awe and such. As for pies? My mom's idea of a pie was pudding in a store-bought crust. And anything I make still pales by comparison.