Why I love my housewarming gift
When I moved into my new place in March, the only person who sent me a housewarming
gift (and gave me some very nice congrats) was our bloggeress. A box
from Zingermans arrived, (how many times do I fantasize about that!) and it
was a traditional housewarming gift, bread and salt. The bread got inhaled
post haste, but let me talk about the salt. Why do I love it?
1.) It’s simple. It’s just salt.
2.) It’s practical without being boring or odd.
3.) It’s in a cool jar with a big cork topper.
4.) I keep it right by the stove and use it nearly every day. When
I do, guess who it reminds me of? Exactly!
5.) It adds flavor to anything and even a little texture as the crystals are
somewhat larger than normal. Does it raise my blood pressure? Maybe
a little, who cares? You think flavor comes for nothing? Guess who
it reminds me of? See #4.
6.) It has a “household saint” kind of feel that ancient Romans
would understand. Salarium, bringer of flavor.
7.) Although it won’t won’t happen anytime soon, eventually the salt will
be gone, leaving the cool jar….which will get another purpose, maybe
to hold coins or my keys. It will never not have a purpose. It’s more
than I can say for me.
It connects to the giver, to the joy of cooking, to a new home, it’s
elemental…and it fills me with love for all of those.
Gratzi, Annie.
It could be no other!
The cosmic whimsy of the universe has made you L’empereur of your fate. There is no way around it for any of us, as much as we would not wish it to be so.
And to be sure, Life is indeed the longest, hardest campaign even for those of us given gifts from the gods. How many times resources are strained at best and non-existent at most typical! How many grueling holding actions, forced retreats, barely avoided routs and even worse debacles are closer to you than kith and kin! Those of you somberly nodding your heads as you read this know whence I speak.
But Today, that most glorious of days, Austerlitz Day, allows for no such gloom!
Your careful preparations, your adroit maneuver, and, above all, your indomitable will have brought you here, sublimely ready to reap the harvest of past circumspections.
The artillery of your passion and courage shall smash the weak fixed formations of melancholy arrayed before you! The infantry of a wise and calm heart shall seize and retain the high ground of what is most precious to you, and the cavalry of your energetic joy shall overtake and capture all past doubts and misfortunes for you to ransom as you deem fit!
That day….is today. That day is your….Austerlitz Day.
Ambiance 