I love this line from Jerry Mcguire, that Dorothy’s young son says as they’re dropping Jerry off at the airport. “Just go ahead and go.” His Dad died, he’s dealt with abandonment, his Mom’s getting involved with Jerry, he’s getting attached to this new guy and he uses this phrase to protect his young and tender heart. It’s “I’ll hurt you before you can hurt me.” Adults do this too, when they are moving on, detaching from a person or place; they typically pick fights to make a breakup easier.

I think we all would like to say: Just go ahead and go to 2020. What started off looking like a typical year, turned out to be the weirdest one ever. The word that keeps getting repeated to describe 2020 is unprecendented and it is certainly that. But I’ve been thinking of another word, as one thing after another just keeps coming in the Fall of this year and that word is amazing. Amazing is an excellent word, because something can be amazingly good or amazingly bad, so it’s a word that does double duty.

So before we give 2020 the big kiss-off, let us pause and reflect on what an absolutely amazing year this has been.

I, for one, am grateful for…

• My garden and yard never looked so good.
• I now really appreciate things I once took for granted- meals out at a restaurant, getting a mani-pedi, getting my hair cut, hugging and kissing people, shaking hands, playing tennis, doing yoga in a room filled with fellow yogis, going to the movies at a theatre, having and attending parties and traveling wherever I wanted, whenever I wanted.
• My house- drawers, closets and rooms- got organized. (the garage never did, however)
• Our family spent a lot of quality time together.
• We tried take-out from restaurants we wouldn’t have normally tried.
• I successfully made homemade pizza dough, foccacia, yeast rolls and Sour Dough bread.
• I learned the recipes for Disney World’s Pineapple Whip and McDonald’s Egg Mcmuffin.
• I read some good books, watched some captivating Netflix shows and discovered new podcasts to listen to. (MFM, Desert Island Discs)
• I had Zoom Happy Hours with friends and Zoom everything else. Zoom, while not the same as meeting in-person, is definitely more convenient. And you can wear your pajama bottoms.
• We bought a boat!
• I had Socially Distanced Dinners, Parties and Book Club Meetings.
• I saw a lot of great sunsets down in the Keys during my month of quarantine.
• Zeke and I took a lot of walks together, something we’ve continued doing.
• I found myself reaching out to friends more and trying to connect in different ways; it forced me to be creative and think outside the box.

Most of all, I’m grateful for the time I got to spend with Zeke and the girls. When, again in the history of our lives, are we going to be forced to spend quality time with each other? Puzzles, homemade meals, Tiger King, it’s all a distant memory, now that we’re all in separate places and I will treasure those months together.

Stayin’ Alive, staying’ alive!

As I was on the tennis court playing in my first USTA match of the new season (and we won!), I was just so happy to be there, in the sun and on the clay at Deering Bay. I saw a lady I hadn’t seen in ages and asked how she was.

“I’m fine,” she said,” How are you?”

“I’m alive,” I said.

Yes my belly’s bigger, I’ve drank more than I can recall, but I’m alive and that, in and of itself, is something to celebrate this year.

Tennis was different than pre-pandemic, with hand wipes, Clorox and hand sanitizer sharing spots with our tennis bags and balls. We were told to put our bags apart from each other (6 feet) and only one person in the match is allowed to change the score. A lady on a nearby court asked for her ball that landed in our court and when I went to grab it, she told me to just kick it back to her. No touchy-touch! I was not that paranoid- I feel fuzzy tennis balls aren’t the easiest surface to transfer germs on. And, besides that, Coronavirus isn’t typically transferred by surfaces, but by droplets in the air from talking, singing, breathing, sneezing, coughing etc… not by a fomite. Fomite- for some reason I love that word! Another positive from the Pandemic- my vocabulary has improved.

We haven’t been watching much on TV other than the usual suspects (Chopped, DDD), as our Amazon and Netflix has been acting up in the Family room. I’ve heard Love Fraud and Fargo (with Chris Rock!) being recommended, so I’d like to check them out. And obviously, Schitt’s Creek swept the Emmy’s, so we’ve been watching that.

We’ve been on a bit of Hanger Steak kick, as it’s a delicious and reliable meat that we usually get at Wild Fork. I’m very pleased with the quality of the meat at Wild Fork and they have a wide variety of items to choose from that you don’t normally find at your local Publix. I decided to try the pre-marinated Hanger Steak at Trader Joe’s, but unlike most of the products at Trader Joe’s, I didn’t love it. The marinade made the meat mushy and the flavoring made the steak taste like baloney, so no muy bueno.

The not so psychic Trader Joe’s cashier.

There was no line at Trader Joe’s, for the first time since the Pandemic, another cause for celebration. Some people in La La Land are still not cognizant of the directional arrows on the floor, but at least everyone had their masks on. I had to do some shopping for the baby shower I threw for Courtney, and as I checked out, I asked my cashier, a tall blonde guy, when they were going to let us start bringing our own reusable bags again.

“I hope they never do,” he said. “The bags people bring in are nasty, disgusting, with food hanging off them. Just gross. The only people who take good care of their bags are Europeans- like Germans or Swiss- because they’re used to it in their culture.”

Trader Joe’s Cashier

He then started talking about different cultures that he’s encountered, Haitians and Jamaicans when he lived in North Miami and how they have a different outlook on life. He asked me if I ever got out of my zip code because “most people from Pinecrest just stay here.” I told him I wasn’t from Pinecrest and that I also had a place in Key Largo.

“Now that’s where we should have a store,” he said. “They have a good vibe there.”

He was big into the vibe of things and I could tell he wasn’t from Miami. When I asked him where he was from, he said: “Some state you don’t know.” I told him I’d seen all 50 states but three, so I may, indeed, have been to his state, which turned out to be South Dakota. I’ve been to South Dakota twice and had actually been to the city he’s from (Rapid City) last summer with my friend Susie. When I relayed this story at the baby shower, we all agreed he seemed like a “very un-Trader Joe’s-type” employee. I usually go in there to get a boost of happiness along with my shopping experience, but not this time. Bad vibes, man.

A Case of Hoarding.

The Baby Shower was a big success- there were just nine of us- (more on it later) but on Sunday, Zeke and I went to my friend Tami’s house to check out her pool as we’re re-doing ours and she and her hubby used to be in the pool business. She sent me a text later, by mistake, about picking up some old clothes. I sent ? and she said she was getting rid of her husband (who’s in North Carolina) Dan’s old clothes. I asked her if this was with his blessing, or was she pulling a Lucy Ricardo? I love Lucy and that episode where she’s trying to get rid of Ricky’s old clothes (including his University of Havana letterman sweater) is hysterical. But Tami said it was with Dan’s blessing, that he’d been saving all his old clothes from 30 and 40 years ago for his son Walker, who’s in his twenties.

“Walker doesn’t want to wear Dan’s old clothes,” Tami said.

“From the 70’s and 80’s,” I noted.

We laughed, then Tami sent me a GIF of John Travolta dancing from Saturday Night Fever, which is how the song “Stayin’ Alive” got stuck in my head. Zeke calls me a Hoarder, which isn’t technically true, but I do get attached to sentimental items, which actually came in handy at the baby shower Saturday. I gave Courtney Christopher’s baby blanket that I wrapped him up in when he came home from the hospital, thirty one years ago. I’ve also been saving empty toilet paper rolls (no sentimental value there), which drives Zeke crazy.

“Get rid of these toilet paper rolls!” he said the other day.

“I’m saving them in case Wyatt has a project,” I replied.

“Wyatt’s never going to have a project with toilet paper rolls!” Zeke said.

We’ll see.

Apparently there’s a thing now called COVID face, brought about by the seven months of eating, drinking, being stressed out and the toll it’s taken on our countenances. Every month during the Pandemic lockdown equals about a normal year, I would guess, so so we’re seven years in. While some people were busy learning a second language, planting a Victory garden or perfecting their sour dough bread during the pandemic, the rest of us were going to pot. Sometimes, when I’m in the car and catch a glimpse of myself with my mask around my neck, it reminds me of The Christmas Story and Ebenzer Scrooge’s partner, Jacob Marley, who had a scarf wrapped around his jaw to keep it from dropping. Now, that’s a COVID face for you!

The other story I’ve been thinking about is Rip Van Winkle and how he fell asleep for 20 years, only to wake up to find the world a completely different place. Imagine falling asleep at the beginning of March 2020 and waking up in September of this year? The world’s in the midst of the Pandemic, rising cases, a raging death toll, crazy climate change and civil unrest? A mere six months later (not twenty) and everything we once knew about life has changed dramatically. We’ve changed dramatically, as the human race as well. Personally, I’d like to just fast forward past November 3rd and the Presidential election, so I don’t have to listen to any more disastrous debates, mudslinging commercials and constantly ringing robocalls. Enough already! Last time, in 2016, we left for Spain the day after the election. Not happening this year. As my friend Martha said:

No one wants us.

Martha

In good news, I got my hair cut and colored for the first time in months, for the baby shower. My hairstylist has a little room off her house where she works, so it’s safe and private. But in really good news, we’re getting our boat delivered Friday to the boatyard at our condo! Yay! Finally. The name will be ‘Bout Time. And it really is!

Keep washing your hands, staying six feet apart and Stayin’ Alive, people.

Up Next: Baby Shower Recipes

My house is getting really organized. I bought two drawer organizers for my kitchen drawers and organized my kitchen “junk drawer”. All my drawers had kind of turned into “junk” drawers, now they are neat and tidy. I ordered some grey velvet hangers from Amazon and am slowly phasing out the ugly plastic white ones, for the skinnier, more elegant grey ones in my bedroom closet.

I’ve begun weeding and pruning around the yard, a little bit every day. We had a gentleman named Peter come by yesterday and repair our coral rock wall, that had been damaged by a gumbo limbo tree. He also repaired another part of the wall that had started crumbling. Zeke’s been raking leaves every morning, after he comes home (earlier and earlier it seems) from work.

“Look how great our yard looks!” he proclaimed proudly, one day last week.

“But there’s no one here to see it,” I said, sadly.

It’s kind of ironic when our house and yard look so good that we can’t have anyone over, but as a friend pointed out, we are here to see it and enjoy it. And when would we ever have the kind of time for all these cleaning and organizing projects? I still have many more things to do on my to-do list, so much I think I would panic if the stay-at-home orders are relaxed. Of course, that would be a good problem to have.

The highlight of my week was definitely getting to see and babysit my grandson Wyatt. His Dad got food poisoning and was unable to watch him Tuesday, so Gigi stepped in to babysit so his Mom could work. He rode his bike and I walked beside him, as we went to see the stuffed animals on 76 street.

My daughter A.J. was organizing an event for Women Who Rock, benefitting Lotus Children, children with Autism who are staying at Lotus House. The event, Denim and Diamonds, was Friday night and the rehearsal was Wednesday night, which is why I was baby-sitting.

Another milestone, I finally got out of my yoga clothes and wore a dress twice this week. The first was for a Zoom meeting for the Coral Gables Community Foundation. We discussed what the foundation is doing to help the community- distributing meals with Threefold Cafe to workers and their families in the Gables who have lost their jobs- and other topics. It was nice to see everyone (even through the computer), but I have to say there was a weird vibe to the meeting. Serious and the unpredictablity and uncertainty of the future weighed heavily on all of us.

The chair of the Gala, which was to be “La Vie en Rose”, a Paris-themed gala at the Biltmore Hotel, poo-pooed the idea that the gala would not go on in October. But the rest of us were silent, because really, who knows?

Things that we’ve lost.

And it dawned on me around the same time, that there will more than likely be no UM football games to attend this Fall. My husband and I are season ticket holders and really look forward to going to the games and tailgating with friends and family. Now, that doesn’t seem likely; and that makes me really sad. Going to UM football games and supporting the ‘Canes is part of what makes us, us.

Also, my Pinecrest Garden Club, which meets the second Tuesday of the month in the Hibiscus Room of Pinecrest Gardens, doesn’t seem likely to reconvene in September. Many of our members are elderly and we normally have around seventy people crammed into the room, eating, drinking and chatting in close knit groups, all things that don’t seem advisable until a vaccine is available. I’ve been sending photo cards to the members with a quote from Emily Dickinson, as a way to keep in touch.

So, the second time I donned a dress was Friday night for the Denim and Diamonds fundraiser my daughter was the event planner for. I put on a denim dress and my diamond earrings for the occasion. No one saw me but my familia, but that’s ok. The event was held on Facebook Live and many people joined in the fun, via Zoom. My nephews, Mike and James Gerrard, played their guitars from their living room and sang two songs; I was also able to see my sister Elise watching with her boyfriend. If you would like to donate to this worthy cause, check out TheLotusChildren.org.

Dinners this week consisted of a Vegetable Lasagna on Sunday (with bread, roasted garlic and salad). The inspiration came from a lasagna I saw on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. It was made with one layer red sauce, then lasagna noodles, one layer of ricotta and spinach, then noodles, one layer of pureed sweet potatoes, then noodles and another layer of ricotta and spinach, and topped with mozzarella and parmesan. Since it made a lot, I shared some with my sisters Kelley and Elise and my neighbor Maggie.

One day, we just ate leftovers, Thursday we had Chicken and Vegetable Tikka Masala my sister Elise made, which I served with white rice. Friday, I had Wyatt, so we just had pasta. My enthusiasm for cooking interesting meals is waning. I made two pizzas on Saturday, made with a two-ingredient Pizza Dough that doesn’t require any yeast. Yeast has been a hot commodity in the pandemic.

Our take-out this week was from Root and Bone in South Miami. The Family Supper consisted of one fried chicken, biscuits, Mac and Cheese, coleslaw and corn for $40. It was all delicious and pick-up was curbside and easy. I also ordered Ribs, fried green tomatoes, sweet potato croquettes and a watermelon salad, all yummy, although the salad was a little wilted. I highly recommend Root and Bone‘s Family Supper. Winner, winner, chicken dinner.

You know how they always ask chefs what their last meal would be? I asked Lauren and Zeke last night, where the first place they would want to eat when restaurants open again. Lauren said Hillstone, where she likes to meet a friend to get the Spinach Artichoke Dip and get a glass of wine. Zeke said Capital Grille to get a dry aged steak, with sides and a nice bottle of wine. He really is a meat and potatoes guy. I think I would like a nice seafood dinner, somewhere in the Keys, on the water. With music and the perfect margarita.

We finished two puzzles this week (well, it was really Zeke) and watching McMillions. We liked McMillions, but it’s no Tiger King. We also started watching a corny show- Listen to Your Heart on ABC, part of the Bachelor franchise, to sate our Monday night Bachelor withdrawals. I finished reading the book for my Book Club, Blood, Bones & Butter. It’s written by Gabrielle Hamilton, the chef and owner of a popular Soho restaurant named Prune. She wrote an article about closing her restaurant in the pandemic and what the future holds for Prune. Read about it (or listen to it on the Daily) at www.nytimes.com>closing-prune-restaurant-covid.

Emma just took her last exam and is set to graduate from F.S.U. this Saturday; Lauren’s in the middle of finals online at UM Law School. Other good news: our tenants in our Keys condo are finally leaving! They stayed an extra month, due to the pandemic and we’ve been dying to go down to our “little slice” of paradise.

Zeke and I are doing well. We’ve gotten into a pretty good system. He cleans the kitchen, I do the laundry. He cooks one night a week, we get take-out one night and I cook the other five. It’s starting to get a little dangerous though, because he’s getting used to this situation (me as hausfrau) and likes the fact we’re saving money by eating in and not having a housekeeper. He said:

“I like the way you fold the laundry. I don’t think we even need Isa anymore.”

Ugh, yes we do! My housekeeper texted me last week. I was hoping it was to tell me she was coming back, but she was just checking in. Hopefully, when restrictions loosen up, she will back at our house.

When Zeke and I first started walking together, we talked about which of the kids we thought would disregard the social distancing rules, and come home and give us the dreaded coronavirus. We had different theories of who the most likely suspect would be. Living in the pandemic is like being in an Agatha Christie murder mystery, where we sit around the living room and look at each other suspiciously. Emma has even turned the tables on us and said: “How do we know where you guys have been? You’re probably going to give it to us.” And every time someone goes to the grocery store (I’m still Instacarting), my heart drops. Twenty-four Publix grocery stores have employees who have tested positive for the coronavirus.

One thing about being in such close quarters with your spouse are the smells. Normally, we aren’t together 24/7, but now that we are… I had a friend who insisted separate bathrooms were the key to a happy marriage; I now know what’s she’s talking about. I now also know one month is the amount of time it takes for a toilet ring to develop. And Zeke has this habit of taking his socks off, and leaving them wherever he happens to be that is really starting to get on my nerves.

I saw a meme with a husband and wife on the couch where she says: “You’re breathing too hard” and I get it. It especially bothers me when he comes into the family room after dinner, with a glass full of ice cream and I hear the clink, clink, clink of the spoon hitting the glass. For some reason, it reminds me of my ex-husband and really bugs the s**t out of me. He knows this and persists on doing it. I just have to leave the room. Deep breaths.

And, even with all the ice-cream eating and wine drinking, Zeke’s lost seven pounds. Another reason to want to kill him.

On the day we had Wyatt, he biked, swam, took a bath, ate dinner and was still up around 9, with no nap. He was exhausted, but refused to sleep. I gave him apple juice and milk (his drink of choice) in his sippy cup, let him watch one of “his shows”,(which are inane) but then turned on ours (McMillions) and he was furious. He started crying. I told him he could either watch our show or go to bed.

“I don’t ever want to be in this family ever again!” he said.

I feel you baby, but our family is all we’ve got right now. We may even eye each other suspiciously, but at the end of the day, we all go to bed under one roof. Luckily, after his outburst, he promptly went to sleep.

So, here’s the Two Ingredient Pizza Dough from the Food Network. One of the ingredients is Greek Yogurt. The recipe called for full fat, but I only had 2% and it turned out fine. I made one with Fig Jam, carmelized onions and Gorgonzola cheese, the other with marinara sauce, mozzarella, basil and parmesan cheese. These were all things I had in the fridge. If you don’t have a pizza stone, you can use an upside down cookie sheet. The hardest part of this recipe, is you have to knead the dough for eight minutes, but I find it’s good therapy and we can all use some therapy right now.

Two-Ingredient Pizza Dough Food Network Kitchen

Ingredients:

• 2 cups self-rising flour, plus more for dusting
• 1 cup full-fat Greek yogurt
• Pizza sauce and shredded mozzarella, for topping

Directions:

• 1 Put a pizza stone or inverted baking sheet on the center rack of the oven and preheat to 450 degrees.
• 2 Put the flour and yogurt in a large bowl and mix with a fork until a shaggy dough forms. (The dough may appear dry and crumbly at first, but it will come together as you mix it.) Turn the mixture out onto a lightly floured work surface and knead until the dough is smooth and slightly elastic, about 8 minutes, dusting with more flour if neccessary. If the dough feels too dry, add water, a tablespoon at a time and continue kneading until it is soft and pliable. Divide the dough in half, roll into balls and then use a rolling pin to roll out into two 10-inch pizzas. Dust the back of another inverted baking sheet or pizza stone with more flour and place a circle of dough on top.
• 3 Top the dough round with sauce and shredded cheese as desired, leaving a half-inch bare border around the edge. Slide the pizza onto the preheated stone or baking sheet, top as desired and put the sheet in the oven to bake. Cook until the crust is golden and the cheese is bubbling, 8 to 10 minutes. Using a large spatula, transfer the pizza to a cutting board and let sit 5 minutes.

We are all human beings. We all have a role to play and together is the only way we will make it out the other side. Be kind, be present, be well.

Micheal Beltrane, chef at Ariete, Taurus. Chugs

Up next: Fun Kitchen projects and How to Shop Safely at the Grocery Store