Excellent, poignant post. I am so sorry about the death of your husband and your daughter's breast cancer. I also had breast cancer. As you know too well, cancer is horrific. Thank you for writing this piece.
Thank you, Beth, for your kind comments. I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It is a hard thing for everyone in the family. I’m glad this piece touched you.🙏❤️
Oh Mary, now you know how all your readers feel. I'm sure many, like me, feel very emotional and even tearful when reading your lovely substacks. I would love to have even a tenth of your literary talent. Honestly, you should not be surprised when we rave about it. You are too modest...
In fact, you and Tom Cox are my absolute favourite writers on Substack! Why you two in particular? Because you both make the ordinary quite extraordinary in your own unique styles.
Shell, I’m so honored. Tom Cox is one of my favorite writers on Substack. I feel humbled to be mentioned alongside him. Thank you again for your generosity.
Another beautiful post, Mary! Was just thinking the other day that it felt like it was time for a new post from you, and then I opened my email and there it was in my inbox! I love this one-the zest, the recipes we follow and the ones we don’t…and the gift of giving it all. Thank you for continuing to share your gift with us.
A writer of note, Mary knows when to add a dash of zest and when to hold back. It's those sonorous empty spaces that make this essay so poignantly beautiful. Bravo, Mary!
I found you through Don Boivin and thanks to him for discovering you here. Your sub-title says it all, "Reclaiming myself and giving back." Would that we all had your wisdom of what return can I make that will help myself and others to live a more fulfilling life of celebrating what we can share. And a big yes to finding and using zest.
Geezus Mary you can bring the tears. Lord I love so much about this piece. How you bring the disjointed snippets together so beautifully. Funny, I was thinking the other day I wanted to read your letter and I meant to go to your page but then you know, life. And look, here you are today in my inbox. ❤️ Much has been said over the years in the food-writing world about that one missing ingredient. And I would be lying if I said I never omitted that one ingredient in a recipe. Hah! Silly — the things we hold onto. Thank you for showing us how its done. Dried zest FTW.
Maureen, I’m so glad to know I have a partner in crime. It’s the kind of thing I always looked askance at in others, then had to admit I was doing it myself. Thank you for sharing your generous words. I’m grateful that you kept coming back.❤️🙏
Another gorgeous look at life and how we find the strength to embrace it…on our own! Zest is the best word here… metaphor maybe but plain as day! I laughed when your son said he didn’t know you could cook! My husband was always the cook… I do not cook, nor do I care to. Luckily my son loves it so he’s our holiday/turkey guy. I set the table 😄 This was a beautiful piece on how you’re growing with grace, facing forward as you keep grief at bay but never too far away. Love your writing, love you, sweet Mary queen of hearts 💕❤️🥰
Oh, Joan, you always bring me to tears. How very kind you are. I really wish I had kept going forward with so many things that I gave up on. My husband was the cook after I stopped cooking, but I’m glad I finally came back to it. Thank you once again for your generosity. Much love.💕❤️🙏
Grief can be a lonely place. We have a choice to wallow in the pain or to step out and find joy (zest) and purpose in life. You have shown us how to do that, Mary by simply doing what you do…… sharing a holiday meal with family or sharing your heart with us. I appreciate your transparency and your willingness to share your journey. Widowhood is not easy, the grief is universal, but we do it alone. Your words help light the path for many on this road. Thank you.
Thank you, Jana. I’m so grateful for the support and kindness of this community. It means so much. Any time I have the opportunity to share my story is a blessing. No one should be alone in grief, and joy is meant to be shared.
The zest crushed me and I had tears well up. I didn't hold them back. Reading your posts is like wandering through an overwhelming country, so real for being so overwhelming. No darkness, just poignancy and truth.
Zoe, I deeply appreciate your words. Yes. I do not want to go into the darkness; My work here is to find the light in myself and share it with others. I’m so glad you’re here.🙏❤️
I love this story Mary, and learning more about you. Self reinvention is hard work, and sometimes we just don't have enough zest to go around. Eventually we remember that there's an infinite amount, more than enough for everyone. Thank you for sharing your zest with me 🥰🙏
Amy, we will always be partners in grief and in joy. You share everything that we need to go forward, and teach me to do the same. Much love to you. ❤️💕🫶
I do not believe the best of you (or any of us that have lost our world) went missing. We needed rest. And healing. And eventually we learn how to add zest without adding the bitter. You most definitely do that! And I am nourished by your writing, and ever so grateful!
As a side note, I felt the same about joining a grief support group when my husband died-just a place full of crying, broken people like me-it took me nine months before I went, because I was drowning in my own tears. But it was through our combined tears that we learned to comfort, and heal and find a little zest again.
Nancy, I feel that I have found a way to get back to the life force - the zest - in me, and in all of us. Thank you for the love and encouragement!
I do think I dismissed the grief group without thinking about it or giving it a chance. I’m going to look around for something IRL. But Substack is a great resource, and especially th Writer, interrupted community. Thank you for being here.🙏❤️
It’s the zest! Thank you for this beautiful piece.
It absolutely is the zest. I’m glad you enjoyed this.
Excellent, poignant post. I am so sorry about the death of your husband and your daughter's breast cancer. I also had breast cancer. As you know too well, cancer is horrific. Thank you for writing this piece.
Thank you, Beth, for your kind comments. I’m so sorry to hear about your diagnosis. It is a hard thing for everyone in the family. I’m glad this piece touched you.🙏❤️
I love this, thank you Mary.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this, Tina.🙏❤️
As always, your writing is sublime, Mary...
Shell, I’m overwhelmed. Thank you for your kind words.🙏💕
But, Mary, it is only the truth I speak, not kindness ;-)
Shell, now I’m in tears.❤️🫶🙏
Oh Mary, now you know how all your readers feel. I'm sure many, like me, feel very emotional and even tearful when reading your lovely substacks. I would love to have even a tenth of your literary talent. Honestly, you should not be surprised when we rave about it. You are too modest...
In fact, you and Tom Cox are my absolute favourite writers on Substack! Why you two in particular? Because you both make the ordinary quite extraordinary in your own unique styles.
Shell, I’m so honored. Tom Cox is one of my favorite writers on Substack. I feel humbled to be mentioned alongside him. Thank you again for your generosity.
Dorothy Parker Dorothy Parker and Johnny Cash took me all kinds of places. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks, Rebecca! They are such great songs, aren’t they?
Yessss!!! They sure are!
Another beautiful post, Mary! Was just thinking the other day that it felt like it was time for a new post from you, and then I opened my email and there it was in my inbox! I love this one-the zest, the recipes we follow and the ones we don’t…and the gift of giving it all. Thank you for continuing to share your gift with us.
Ariana, thank you for your kind words, and for waiting! It did take longer than expected to write this. I’m so glad you enjoyed it.
Such a lovely essay. You can always tell when something is missing from a “recipe”…I will be thinking about this one for a while. Many thanks!
MJ, thank you. I’m so glad that this moved you.🙏🫶
A writer of note, Mary knows when to add a dash of zest and when to hold back. It's those sonorous empty spaces that make this essay so poignantly beautiful. Bravo, Mary!
Thank you, Dan. You are so generous and kind.
I found you through Don Boivin and thanks to him for discovering you here. Your sub-title says it all, "Reclaiming myself and giving back." Would that we all had your wisdom of what return can I make that will help myself and others to live a more fulfilling life of celebrating what we can share. And a big yes to finding and using zest.
Gary, I’m glad that you’re here. I’m so thankful for your kind words. And yes to zest.
Geezus Mary you can bring the tears. Lord I love so much about this piece. How you bring the disjointed snippets together so beautifully. Funny, I was thinking the other day I wanted to read your letter and I meant to go to your page but then you know, life. And look, here you are today in my inbox. ❤️ Much has been said over the years in the food-writing world about that one missing ingredient. And I would be lying if I said I never omitted that one ingredient in a recipe. Hah! Silly — the things we hold onto. Thank you for showing us how its done. Dried zest FTW.
Maureen, I’m so glad to know I have a partner in crime. It’s the kind of thing I always looked askance at in others, then had to admit I was doing it myself. Thank you for sharing your generous words. I’m grateful that you kept coming back.❤️🙏
Another gorgeous look at life and how we find the strength to embrace it…on our own! Zest is the best word here… metaphor maybe but plain as day! I laughed when your son said he didn’t know you could cook! My husband was always the cook… I do not cook, nor do I care to. Luckily my son loves it so he’s our holiday/turkey guy. I set the table 😄 This was a beautiful piece on how you’re growing with grace, facing forward as you keep grief at bay but never too far away. Love your writing, love you, sweet Mary queen of hearts 💕❤️🥰
Oh, Joan, you always bring me to tears. How very kind you are. I really wish I had kept going forward with so many things that I gave up on. My husband was the cook after I stopped cooking, but I’m glad I finally came back to it. Thank you once again for your generosity. Much love.💕❤️🙏
Grief can be a lonely place. We have a choice to wallow in the pain or to step out and find joy (zest) and purpose in life. You have shown us how to do that, Mary by simply doing what you do…… sharing a holiday meal with family or sharing your heart with us. I appreciate your transparency and your willingness to share your journey. Widowhood is not easy, the grief is universal, but we do it alone. Your words help light the path for many on this road. Thank you.
Thank you, Jana. I’m so grateful for the support and kindness of this community. It means so much. Any time I have the opportunity to share my story is a blessing. No one should be alone in grief, and joy is meant to be shared.
The zest crushed me and I had tears well up. I didn't hold them back. Reading your posts is like wandering through an overwhelming country, so real for being so overwhelming. No darkness, just poignancy and truth.
Zoe, I deeply appreciate your words. Yes. I do not want to go into the darkness; My work here is to find the light in myself and share it with others. I’m so glad you’re here.🙏❤️
I love this story Mary, and learning more about you. Self reinvention is hard work, and sometimes we just don't have enough zest to go around. Eventually we remember that there's an infinite amount, more than enough for everyone. Thank you for sharing your zest with me 🥰🙏
Amy, we will always be partners in grief and in joy. You share everything that we need to go forward, and teach me to do the same. Much love to you. ❤️💕🫶
Words escape me after reading your work. I will try to remember the zest while allowing all the emotions to do what they will do. Thank you.
Debra, I’m honored. It’s humbling to know how my words can connect, can help bring out the courage and joy that we may not know are within us all. ❤️
I do not believe the best of you (or any of us that have lost our world) went missing. We needed rest. And healing. And eventually we learn how to add zest without adding the bitter. You most definitely do that! And I am nourished by your writing, and ever so grateful!
As a side note, I felt the same about joining a grief support group when my husband died-just a place full of crying, broken people like me-it took me nine months before I went, because I was drowning in my own tears. But it was through our combined tears that we learned to comfort, and heal and find a little zest again.
Nancy, I feel that I have found a way to get back to the life force - the zest - in me, and in all of us. Thank you for the love and encouragement!
I do think I dismissed the grief group without thinking about it or giving it a chance. I’m going to look around for something IRL. But Substack is a great resource, and especially th Writer, interrupted community. Thank you for being here.🙏❤️