Good Food Memories

Today I let the memories start again. 

With the food you see here, that is. 

Who knew that they would come with a sandwich? 

I didn’t know that this one thing was going to be a part of my day until a good food memory came to me. 

The feeling of an easier time came back to me with a simple egg salad sandwich. 

Food has brought me strength, tasty treats, joy, sweet moments and then memories like this one today.

And a time when a sandwich was all that was needed for the day to be perfect. Sitting next to a friend or a cousin or a sibling as a kid while we ate a sandwich. 

The sudden thought came along with questions that trailed along in quick succession. 

What will happen if I actually eat an egg again? 

Will this sandwich taste the same as it did when I was a kid? 

What’s the worst thing that can happen? 

Am I as brave as I was as an eight-year-old? 

Oh, the smile that appeared on my face almost demanded that each answer be found. 

Shall we begin? 

Yes! 

To do that I’ll let you in on a bit of history. 

There are some good food memories that have stayed as memories.

There are some good food memories that have stayed as memories because I do not eat the same things I have in the past. 

That would include meat and most other animal products. Yes, like eggs and milk. For some reason I totally lost the taste for each of them many decades ago. 

For me to even think of this simple memory based on food is like me going back to a person I used to be and who I was with before now.  

I even thought about different recipes of the egg salad and then went with the one I know. 

It was as if my memories showed me the way and kept it simple as the questions began to be answered. 

It’s time to start by asking about what will happen. Nothing will happen! 

Isn’t that amazing? 

This idea and choice are mine, if I’m going to choose it, so let’s keep going. 

Seems easy enough. 

Memories are what can be done as we step into the next piece because will the sandwich even taste the same? 

Perhaps that has happened to you! 

You have a good memory in your mind.

You think about something and have a good memory in your mind. 

There is a picture of how it was before and what it should be now. 

Then, there is the thought of what will happen IF it’s not the same. 

Oh Lands! 

What will happen if it’s not the same? It would be better to leave the good memory and the food in the past and not tempt fate, or the taste buds.

And then what will happen if it IS the same. 

Mmmm. 

Wait, wait, wait. 

The progression is building here, my friends. 

I picture the good memories of food, how it tasted in my childhood when I have the sandwich.

The worst that can happen also builds up in my mind as I picture the good memories of food, how it tasted in my childhood, how it could happen when I have the sandwich in my hand. 

Could it be better than I expected?

Now is the time for me to be present and also hold onto the memory. 

You’ll see that I am also building up to the bravery of an eight-year-old. 

The final step to being in this moment also brought me to other memories. 

Interestingly some of them were tied to food as well as other people who have been in my life.

Like when the popcorn was popping, and fries were being dipped in sauce with another tall kid. 

Was it about the food or about the people? 

I’m beginning to think the memories are about the people. 

That is something for us to continue thinking about as we continue. 

Now is when I decided that yes, again and again, the good food memory is what I can choose today and tomorrow. 

Here is what I now know. 

A good food memory doesn’t always need to stay in the past.

A good food memory doesn’t always need to stay in the past. Sometimes, we can bring it forward again to hold it gently again. 

Like the people who have been there along with the tasty treats. 

Holding the sandwich in my hand felt comfy and the smile returned to my face.

You see, each of these questions took only seconds to run through in my mind. 

Then being present returned and the first bite into a soft egg salad sandwich took place. 

The what-ifs were replaced with ‘oh yes, there it is’ alongside the tastes of what can be started again. 

What if that is the new part of being brave? 

Holding the good memory with what we have with us, here and now. 

I’m here to do it with you, my friends.