The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

Radiate and Flicker and Glow

June 9, 2009

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. It had been cloudy and gray all day, and raining on and off, so instead of sun, I had a lot of lights on. I know it might seem wasteful, but I like a lot of light. I like to see what I'm doing, if nothing else, but if there's any warmth to be had, I like that, too. I like words like "glow" and "bask" and "illuminate" and if I can get a vitamin from being in the light, well, light up the ultraviolet bulb.

Don't get me wrong. A good candle or two certainly can do the trick, especially on a dreary day. And there are certain days which call for candlelight. I light one up on days when the house smells musty after a long winter. I light a candle on days when someone I love is far away or struggling or having surgery. I light a candle on days when I'm remembering something significant to me alone, and I might not even explain it to anyone. (I light a candle every year on the date of my conception, and that's all I'll say about that except that it's in December and I was born nine months to the day later.) Some days I light a candle simply because I'm feeling crappy and a flickering flame is enough to distract me into feeling better.

They say each of us has an aura about us, a kind of field of energy that reacts and expands in light and color. I don't know for sure about this, but I swear I've met people who are lit up and shine, who radiate and flicker and glow, and I also know people who are burnt out and dull and, well, kind of dead. You know? 'Minds me of a song I love. "This Little Light of Mine, / I'm Gonna Let It Shine..." Let it shine? Heck. Light up the whole prairie, Honey. For as long as ever you can.

German Potato Salad with Garlic
Twice a year I crave German food: October and June. Here's light and tangy potato salad for a picnic hike. Enjoy with a bottle of locally brewed beer and some
Kielbasa from the butcher shop.

10 boiled potatoes, sliced (Yukon Gold or Idaho Red)
5 T oil
5 T cider vinegar
5 T water
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
1/2 c. chopped onions
5 cloves of garlic, smashed
1 tsp. sugar

Layer the potatoes and dressing in a bowl. Avoid stirring. This salad goes great with smoked sausage or Kielbasa.

Enjoy!

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