Saturday, August 4, 2012

Pie


A strange summer, this year.  The heat seems almost a physical threat; its blistered fingers wrapping about my throat with crushing force.  An igneous embrace complete with stale, febrile breath, as if Mother Nature has finally burned out in a most literal sense.  The scorch is wearing indeed, I now dream of rain and long cool baths (instead of aliens beneath the floorboards and vampiric neighbors, perhaps this is an improvement, yes?)  I fear the tempers of the entire nation are on edge--the complaining, whining, and groaning reaches a nearly audible peak by late afternoon, even the residential pool has begun to evaporate as whimpering children look on.  While this is somewhat predictable, what I have been surprised to observe, is a seeming landslide of irrational and risky behavior as well, choices that defy all intelligent reason, absurd sophomoric recklessness.

Is it a fever?  Have the calescent fumes incinerated that part of the brain that pauses....calculating the depth of the water, before plunging off?  I've found myself on several occasions with my mouth hanging open in shock, stunned into speechlessness.  Flirtation with affairs and unemployment and bankruptcy.  Negligent and mindless treatment of the major life stabilizers--those pillars that corner the foundation one lives upon.  Not just careless driving, but damn near propositioning disaster--naked, down on one knee.

I have argued, I have warned, I have begged...and in then end, I frankly have been enraged by the simple selfishness that seems rampantly out of control.  Please don't misunderstand, I can be queen of Land Selfish from time to time, we all battle our self-preserving flesh on a fairly regular basis, but I try....isn't that the key?  Trying?  I keep in mind, my pie.  Yes, you read that right. 

I have a theory about a pie.

Pie me.  Me, the pie.  I'm not particularly concerned about the flavor of such a concoction, but of the pieces contained within.  For you see, I am not just Chantel.  Being Chantel would be easy. (now that I think about it, perhaps coconut would be a good match...ahem)  Being only Chantel would liberate me to eat and think and prioritize based purely on the tastes and whims that catch my capacious fancy!  Ambrosial--but fairly unsustaining in the long run.  This pie has other pieces.  Sawyer's mother.  Brennan and Noah's mother.  Also in this pastry of delights resides Jason's wife, Don and Sandra's daughter, and  a sister or two.  But it doesn't end there.  Smaller slices, mind you, but still substantial with crust and cream filling, are the Douglas and Duffy and Dieck's neighbor, Agnes' best friend, the Man Cave/crash pad Manager, and don't forget the annual Soup Party Chef. 

When I choose.  When I decide.  When I risk.  I am risking them all.

I am indeed Chantel--lover, painter, author and chef.....but my life is shared with many.  We all are blessed to live in a world of immense choice.  Every day the menu of life seems to grow larger.  Beyond appetizers and mains and desserts, I swear we're in the process of creating cocktails and bites and nibbles.  Choices topped with frosting and sprinkles.  What we can do with our time and money and freedom is nearly endless, but it is imperative such is done with clarity.  Consideration.  There are moments when sacrifice is essential.  When self-control may divide heaven from hell.  Where ever you go, whatever you do....

Remember your pie.

12 comments:

terlee said...

If the world was a bakery, I would be a Lemon Meringue pie: tart, with a sweet back flavor; crisp, buttery crust; topped with a lightly toasted, marshmallowy goodness.

Flavors, textures, tastes; sour, sweet, savory...Life as Pie. Good one Coconut, truly.

Shea Goff said...

Wise words, my friend.

Christine Macdonald said...

Lovely and thought provoking post.

We are all pieces of a larger pie, aren't we?

There are so many who seem to forget this.

Shelly said...

There was a time when I thought the parts of my life that intertwined with others' lives were entanglements, but now I know they are embraces.

Out on the prairie said...

I hear that 3 lettered word and think food. I divide my pie unintentually.

Melissa Maris said...

Wow. What a wonderful metaphor for all the connections that make us. I don't think I'll ever make another major decision without having a pie thought.

Really, I just want to keep putting whipped cream on top of my pie to drown out the pieces that aren't sweet enough...I'm sure that's an indicator that I need therapy. :)

Bretthead said...

You forgot to write Brett's blog and facebook buddy. Geez, the best pie is always out!

Anonymous said...

I think this is what my mom was trying to tell me all throughout my teenage years when I would say something self-centered like, "It's my life! I can do whatever I want!".

Clearly, all of the decisions I made did not ONLY affect my life, but that of my mom, my dad, my sister, and probably countless others I didn't think about. Of course, this sort of knowledge only came half a decade AFTER my mom tried to explain this to me for the first time. ;o)

Mary Kirkland said...

We should always remember the pie.

ND Mitchell said...

Great reminder that no one is an island and no on can have their cake and eat it. At the part of the Olympics Football tournament that was held in Scotland, the main dish on sale was pie. It was a real family occasion-maybe the caterers had been reading your blog :)

Marie Loerzel said...

I will never look at pie the same way again. Or myself.

Anonymous said...

amen sista!!! I truly agree that our lives are filled with CHOICE. good or bad. pie or no pie...... cherry or cream cheese......