Saturday, February 09, 2013

On a Dime

Last weekend I rented a cargo van and drove to Malden with my friend Mary to pick up the last of my things from Matt’s storage unit: A big cherry-wood desk and matching chair, given to me by my mother when I lived in New York. It’s been exactly one year since Matt and I split. The symmetry of this date was both pleasant and painful. The multi-story storage center was empty when we arrived, halls of concrete and bright orange doors fanning out in front of us, like we had wandered into a Stanley Kubrick movie. When I opened the unit, a small one in the back, I saw my desk and chair alongside a number of items I once knew so well (his Army backpack, our bike rack) and a few things I did not (a Christmas wreath, a bag of women’s sweaters). Mary and I lugged my desk out, down the hall, and into the van. I locked the unit and we drove home.

The next day I woke up with a cold. A bad cold. A sore throat, body aching, tissue grabbing cold. And all I wanted, as is true whenever I have a cold, was soup.

I made a tomato soup—(this soup)—one creamy and thick with sourdough bread and bright with cumin and cilantro. It’s from Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami Tamimi’s JERUSALEM, which, as you know, is a book I love. Jessica made this same soup for my 30th birthday party a few months ago—a lovely, raucous night filled with great friends and goofy photos. I loved that evening, for both the fun of the moment itself and what it represented as a start to a new year. Because last year? It was a hard year. A good year, but a challenging year. A lot of things changed. I learned what it means to be proud of myself. I learned what it means to let go.

I shared this soup on Monday night with someone new, a someone that wants to share soup with me on a Monday night even if I’m sick and he may or may not believe soup actually qualifies as a meal. It’s early, so that’s all I’ll say about that. I know as well as anyone that life can change in an instant, can turn course on a dime.

But on Tuesday, I put the key to Matt’s storage locker in an envelope, which I then sealed, addressed, and stamped. I carried the envelope tucked in my purse for a day before I remembered to drop it into the mailbox outside my apartment building on my way to work.

37 comments:

Leciawp said...

This sounds like such a good time of life for you in so many ways. xo

nicole said...

Love this, Molly. So glad you have soup - and other things - to comfort you when you are sick (the only thing I ever want when I'm sick is soup for sure). Wishing you a fantastic 30th year!!

Molly said...

thanks, ladies. xo

Hannah said...

Someone who shares soup when you're sick is probably a nice someone, dimes or no. Hope you feel better soon.

(And I have been meaning to try that soup since Jess posted it after your party - thanks for the reminder!)

Mary M. said...

love this, love you.

summer said...

Glad to read such a nice post (even if you did get sick). Upward and onward!

Molly said...

Hannah - a very nice someone :)

Mary - ditto!

Summer - upward and onward indeed xo

Holly said...

I especially like your last sentence. 'atta Girl! :)

Mikey F. said...

Soup is always a great way to end a Monday... And a lovely way to warm ourselves.

Love your words, as always.
M.

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