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nancypullen · 8 days ago

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I Was Almost On CNN

It's been a day. Living in Dogpatch has many drawbacks and for the most part I have adjusted. I've been looking for a certain food item, nothing fancy, and haven't been able to find it. I'm not searching for white truffles or beluga caviar, just a freakin' carton of peppermint ice cream. Let me explain. I'm a granny, and for decades I have put Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners on the table. All of the family favorites, mostly southern recipes, make an appearance. The table groans under the weight of all the casseroles and we groan after we eat all of that buttery, rich food. Last month as I cooked our Thanksgiving feast, I was not having as much fun as in years past. I kept looking at the massive amounts of not-so-healthy foods and just felt icky. My family, however, is sentimental about the traditional meal. So I cooked for two days, put it on the holiday table, and the meal was over in 25 minutes. I'm not saying it wasn't appreciated, my family is very kind about that - but it took longer to clear the table and load the dishwasher than it did for the meal to be consumed. Just one more reason to make a change. A couple of days after Thanksgiving I declared that our Christmas dinner would not be the same old stuff. The menfolk looked at me like deer in the headlights. It wasn't until I said that maybe I'd make a brisket that they relaxed a little. Did they think I was going to put a platter of PB&J on the table? I told them that the sides would be greatly reduced because we don't need all of the carbs/butter/sugar/name a poison. Sure, they'll miss the sweet potato souffle covered in brown sugar and pecans, but they'll thank me later. I'm keeping the hashbrown casserole for two reasons - it'll go great with the brisket, and they'd really miss it. I'm going to add some maple bacon brussels sprouts, and a sheet pan of ranch crescent rolls. . I'll marinate the brisket overnight and cook it slow in the oven on Christmas day. That's it. It's an embarrassingly simple meal, and about a week ago I started feeling guilty. I mean, really guilty. Those old holiday meals made my family happy. They expect those twice-a-year dishes from me. I just ripped those traditions to shreds because I'm tired.

I was swimming in that guilt when I realized that although I've got brownies, sugar cookies, etc available - I'd made no plan for a dessert after Christmas dinner. I am failing at every turn. That's when I decided that we'd have a dense, dark chocolate cake...and peppermint ice cream. I've done it before and it's a delightful, wintery, holiday dessert. Easy, simple, winner! Until I started looking for peppermint ice cream. In the past *cough*not here*cough* I'd drive 4 miles to any number of fine grocery stores, pick up a carton, and toss it in the freezer until needed. Not here. In Caroline County people act as if they've never heard of it. Today I dragged Matt with me and drove the 30 minutes to Easton because according to their website Harris Teeter had some in stock. They lied. I looked at every freezer shelf and even the seasonal end cap freezers. No dice. Another phone consultation showed that Target had 4 in stock. They also lied. Mind you, this hunt involved searching for parking and working through crowded stores because it's the 23rd of December. Normally I wouldn't be caught dead in a store at this stage of the game. It would have been easier at this point to just choose a different flavor, but nothing else would have the same festive flair. I considered a carton of black cherry but I just couldn't give up. Another phone search revealed that the Giant supermarket across town supposedly had peppermint ice cream. Off I went. I was not feeling optimistic. In my head I was feeling the burden of my family's expectations - I'd already torpedoed their normal Christmas meal, then I'd chosen to take the easy way out on dessert as well. I'd promised peppermint ice cream and I would die trying to make that happen. I'll add that I am tired, I have a lot to do the next couple of days, and I JUST WANTED THIS ONE WIN. We pulled into a parking spot at Giant and I looked at Matt who had been cheerful all day (this quick trip had turned into 3 hours), and I said, "Just warning you. I'm this close to a melt down. If they don't have it I might turn into that crazy customer that starts pushing over displays." His eyes widened for a second and then he grinned. Deep down, he knew that I wouldn't do any such thing. But he'd also get a kick out of witnessing it if I did. We walked to the back of the store to the freezer section and began our search. Various vanillas, so much mint chocolate chip, butter pecan, Oreo, Snickers, pistachio (my favorite!) and just as I was suggesting that maybe I could just buy vanilla and crush up candy canes to sprinkle on top - Matt spotted it. Not a carton, but four of those pint-sized Häagen-Dazs containers of peppermint ice cream. I started hemming and hawing because buying four pricier pints was not my plan, and that's when Matt scooped them all up and said, "I'm buying them." I think he was over the whole issue. Fair. Especially after I'd said I might go postal in Giant. So I grabbed a carton of neopolitan for the grandgirl and hurried to check out. Matt was already in self-checkout and we met at the door. I felt awful that he'd paid for the ice cream (I'll sneak cash into his wallet) and then felt like a big baby when he whipped out the latest copy of Southern Living. I'd reached for it earlier and then decided I didn't need it because it would be full of recipes that it's too late to include in my plans. He was sweet enough to surprise me with it. Four pints of Häagen-Dazs and a magazine kept me off CNN. There will not be a feature story of a crazy woman flipping shelves of candy canes and poinsettias in a small town grocery store in Maryland. It's a Christmas miracle. I did this to myself. I changed the tradition, my stress is self-inflicted. I'm was so worried about Christmas not being perfect for my family that I forgot how sweet they are, and what's important. I could serve Beanie Weenies and we'd still laugh around the table. I could have chosen any flavor of ice cream and our

holiday would still be merry. I'm surrounded by kind,loving people who would really prefer that I stop stressing over the little details. That should probably be a goal of mine for 2025. What's that old saying? It's not what's on the table, it's who's in the chairs. Looking at it that way, our Christmas is already perfect. I'm one lucky duck.

From me to you, whatever has your shoulders up around your ears and your teeth clenched. Let it go. None of it will matter in a year. The people who love you will keep right on loving you, and those who don't...well, who cares? Take a deep breath and thank your lucky stars for the good people in your life. What a gift.

Stay safe, stay well, stay sane. XOXO, Nancy

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