The View From Mrs. Sundberg's Window

Never met a perfect person

October 24, 2012

Listened to the show Saturday and it was not bad. Such a relaxing time, and I did a bit of dancing to the "Kentucky Waltz" while I made pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting. It was the "duet" show, which got me thinking about how people work together, and then I got to thinking about how people in love work together, and then I missed Mr. Sundberg, who is away this week in Toronto, doing a series called "Your Vision for Your Life: 3 Steps to Making It Real."

I helped him with that presentation. It was kind of my idea, and we had some fun writing it all down. I try to keep my distance for the most part. I always have thoughts and ideas about what he might say, but I know by now that I ought to keep it to myself unless he asks, and he did this time around, so I told him I think that getting to where you want to be in life ought to be simple: you take a look at where you've been; you give a nod to where you are, and you declare where it is you'd like to be one day. I'm not talking about a place, as much as a state of being, and Mr. Sundberg agreed.

It's not easy having a partner. Especially when he or she is often away. Takes a lot of patience and forgiveness, along with simple acceptance. There's a reason we have in our heads "Dream Man" or "Dream Woman" (people always say "dream girl" but "woman" works better in my book), because there is no such thing. Never met a perfect person. What makes two imperfect people work together is messy and complicated. You learn each other, and you accommodate, and you give a lot and you take. You count on each other. You don't give up, and you leave room for brokenness, and you laugh now and then, and one day you realize you have been with your Dream Person all along.

Sometimes I don't think marriage is about love as much as it is about familiarity, and companionship, and witnessing each others' lives. You choose to love each other every day, but maybe it's what you've shared and what you hope for that keeps you together. Complicated, yes. And frustrating and lonely sometimes. But fun, too. Like singing "I Got You, Babe" or "Unforgettable." When neither of you can sing all that well, and you don't know all the words. You just learn it. Together. And when you falter, well, try more cowbell. Can't hurt.

I'm not sure what it is about October, but I've been craving meat lately. I'm not talking hamburger, either. Big meat, like roast beef and pork chops and corned beef and steak. At the same time, I have a hankering for spices -- cardamom, cinnamon, allspice, cloves. So this recipe would be among those in the jackpot.

Apple Brown Sugar Pork Chops

2 pork chops (1" thick)
1 apple sliced or chopped into small pieces
1 stick of butter
½ cup brown sugar
dash of cinnamon

Slice pork chops into small, thin slices. Cut apple into small pieces.
In a large skillet, add ¾ stick of butter and brown sugar. Cook the pork chop strips on medium heat until pork is cooked through.
Once the pork chops start looking done, add the rest of the butter and the apples until slightly softened but not limp.
Serve with vegetables or baked potatoes or noodles, even.

Enjoy!

Previous article: « Just ask a question or two

Next Article: The things we can't not do  »