Planning complex, beautiful meals and investing one's heart and time in their preparation is the opposite of self-indulgence. Kitchen-based family gatherings are process-oriented, cooperative, and in the best of worlds, nourishing and soulful. A lot of calories get used up before anyone sits down to consume. But more importantly, a lot of talk happens first, news exchanged, secrets revealed across generations, paths cleared with a touch on the arm. I have given and received some of my life's most important hugs with those big oven-mitt potholders on both hands.
Barbara KingsolverWhen you pick up a novel from the bed side table, you put down your own life at the same time and you become another person for the duration.
Barbara KingsolverYou could love your crazy people, even admire them, instead of resenting that they're not self-sufficient.
Barbara Kingsolver