Can Thursday Be The New Friday?
Mr. Rogers, Pickled Onions and a New Time
Ok, I’m doing a thing. Ordinarily, I send out newsletters over the weekend. But today I had a thought. Generally, that means I would think on it for another few months until the thought disappeared but I thought, this one time, let’s see what happens when I act on something the SAME DAY. Witchcraft.
I want Thursday to be the new Friday. I want to look forward to Thursday like it’s the harbinger of good things to come. I mean, Friday’s basically over by Thursday night anyway, right? Who expects you to do any good work on a FRIDAY? Which is why I thought you could spend your time reading this instead. Thursday is the new Friday. Let’s make it a thing, k?
I idolize very few people. I’m not sure if that communicates how smart or how distrusting I am, but, it’s the truth nevertheless. The first is the indomitable Julie Andrews. Don’t come at me- this former theater kid don’t play. If I ever met Julie Andrews in person ( after mocking every single person to the end of time who I’ve witnessed do this when they met THEIR idols) I would most certainly cry. The last is without question, Fred Rogers.
When our last president was in office, I would often imagine a meet and greet between himself and Mr. Rogers. I’m sure he would have asked him about his favorite childhood toy in that slow, patient way of his. After an hour or so (and a few cheese, lettuce, and tomato sandwiches) I am positive Mr. Rogers would have patted his hand to conclude their time together, held his gaze, and asked him to be his neighbor. Which would be both ironic, and inspiring without intending to be either one.
Mr. Rogers understood what it meant to be a neighbor- which, is different than an ally, I’m learning. Neighbors don’t forge alliances and sign treaties and ration out supplies- neighbors LIVE with you, in your space. You pound the same piece of sidewalk. They know when you’re sick, or when your power’s out. You can’t lie effectively to a neighbor- they heard you and your husband fighting from three doors down. They have a front-row seat to your receding hairline and expanding midsection. They can smell when you burned the cookies. Neighbors are the real deal.
I’ve never really known what I wanted to be when I grew up, but I think now, a good neighbor might have been it.
Things That I’m Loving :
Speaking of learning how to be a good neighbor, I’m almost through with Shannan Martin’s, “It Starts With Hello”. It’s really beautiful to be a noticer of things. To see magic in the ordinary places. Shannan is gifted in noticing the ordinary magic of being a neighbor.
I saw Brandi Carlile and Brittany Howard at MSG last weekend and I HAVE NOT RECOVERED, OK? Live music gives me life and makes me second-guess all of my life choices. I would have been great on the road. Except for the whole car sickness/air sickness thing. So, maybe not.
I’ve made it my mission to find as many vehicles for my pickled red onion recipe as I could find. Shawarma. Salads. Bahn Mi’s. But my favorite? These breakfast tacos:
And as promised, the recipe:
PICKLED RED ONIONS
Ingredients
2 small red onions
2 cups red wine vinegar
2 cups water
1/3 cup cane sugar
2 tablespoons sea salt
2 garlic cloves
1 teaspoon pink peppercorns ( they have a fruit-er taste. Trust me).
1 allspice berry
1 bay leaf
Place the garlic cloves, peppercorns, allspice berry and bay leaf at the bottom of the jar. Thinly slice the red onions and place them in the jar. Heat the water, vinegar, salt and sugar over medium heat until just dissolved. Pour over the contents in the jar, tighten the lid and refrigerate overnight.
Use on everything. Maybe even bring a jar to your neighbor.