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Wednesday, April 08, 2009

FROM FOUL MOOD TO FOWL MOOD - Jenny Gardiner

I’d been in a funk for days. A whole lot of life circumstances had conspired to form a perfect storm that ushered in a seriously foul mood in me. To top it off, the weather seemed determined to contribute to the cause, as cold rain had descended to hover over us as gray and dismal as my temperament seemed to.

As much as I wanted to get over it, I couldn't escape the shackles of my unpleasant mood.

Then my kind friend Aggie showed up on my doorstep, surprising me with a dozen eggs. And with little more than that humble gesture, suddenly I felt much better.



Right about now you’re wondering how weird I must be that I would be cheered up by eggs. But these weren’t just any old eggs: these were fresh from her henhouse. Coveted eggs with bright orange yolks as cheerful as a May morning. Eggs that aren’t quite so easy to come by in this day and age. The fact that my friend wanted to share her limited supply of her treasured eggs was such an act of impromptu kindness, it couldn’t not brighten my mood.

And it reminded me that we all ought to try to remain better connected with one another, because ultimately it is those bonds with our friends and family that help to elevate us when we're feeling most down.

Sometimes in this world of disconnect it’s hard to personalize one’s sentiments. We’re so busy zapping out emails and staccato’d text-messages and scurrying to and fro, we never find the time for conversation. As much as I enjoy catching up with friends on the phone, for instance, I rarely have the time to talk when it’s convenient to me. So instead? I communicate electronically, until I can find the time to squeeze in a chat with someone. And I don’t think I’m alone in this--it seems to be the norm. Yet somehow that email or e-card just doesn’t have the same grand delivery as does a simple thoughtful deed. Like Aggie's.

You know the crazy thing is I don’t particularly even like eggs, although my family sure does. But I do greatly appreciate the sentiment behind fresh eggs, and as a cook and avid supporter of buying locally, I know that fresh, local eggs are vastly better than store-bought. I actually find it extremely gratifying to crack into an egg and see that brilliant yellow-orange yolk: it means something to me. So in Aggie's message was much more than an egg, it was sharing of something relevant, something to be savored.

There is a tradition in the Cajun French culture of lagniappe: something for nothing. For instance, throwing in a thirteenth donut when you get a dozen. A little extra something. It makes imminent sense how that little something can ultimately mean so much.

With Easter time upon us, I could go all deep and exploratory and ponder the symbolism of eggs, the poster child for renewal, being that which lifted me up from my bleak mindset. Or I could just tell you I was one of those children perfectly content to play with the ribbon, rather than the expensive toy beneath the ribbon. Either which way, there is something so very right about that gift: the sweet simplicity of the thought behind it. From one friend to another: "Have some eggs." And to be reminded that someone cares.




Jenny Gardiner is the author of the award-winning novel Sleeping with Ward Cleaver and the upcoming humorous memoir Parrothood: Twenty Years of Caring for a Vengeful Bird Determined to Kill Me.(Simon Spotlight, Spring, 2010)

6 comments:

Jenny Gardiner said...

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Caroline said...

Hi. I couldn't agree with you more about the importance of good friends! I have a best friend of over 28 years; and although we don't see each other as often as we like when we do, we make up for lost time. Last weekend she came up to visit and as we were enjoying a nice meal out she remarked that dh and myself hadn't been on holiday for over 4 years. I said it was because of the dogs. They are rescue dogs from kennels and would hate to be put back in a kennel for even a day never mind a week. And as we haven't really got anyone to look after them....So out of the blue she say I can spare a week to dog sit. Go book yourself a holiday. So we did - we didn't need to be told twice!!!. Spain in June. Great friends can't be bought. I can feel myself filling up....Caroline xx

Jenny Gardiner said...

What a lovely friend! Good for you--you picked well!

Suzanne Macpherson said...

my neighbors are like this- always bringing me CLAMS and OYSTERS seriously, and I'm so grateful it is amazing. We trade food all the time and just raid each others pantry. We're both the kind of neighbors that ask for toasted sesame seeds,dry sherry, pickled ginger- you know, all the regular stuff LOL

Appreciation is the path to enlightenment, I'm pretty darn sure.

Michele L. said...

A good friend is sure hard to find but when you do hang on to them forever!

I have a very good friend that I have loads of fun with! We are like two sisters who were separated at birth because we have so much common all the way down to having the same allergies, food dislikes, a mole in the same spot, etc. It is pretty freaky!

Her name is Micheline and my name is Michele. I mean how much closer can you get than that?

Jenny Gardiner said...

Suz--I know what you mean, like the one you know you can borrow sorrel pesto from on a moment's notice LOL
And Michele --that is freaky! Twins separated at birth!