Leisure

It's that time of year when many folks are planning excursions that take them away from the grind of work and daily demands. Indeed, the pursuit of leisure lends itself to a variety of manifestations. For instance, camping is relaxing to some. To others, it feels like work to set up tents, prepare meals, swat mosquitoes and trudge through grassy trails in search of an outhouse.

Disneyland is viewed by many families as the ultimate get-away with it's incessant array of activities and entertainment options. On the other hand, the explosion of sensory happenings, the long, snaking queues and the parade of mouse ears and princesses can be disconcerting to others.

My definition of leisure does not include tent poles, amusement rides, gift shops or swarms of people. Leisure is:
* not setting an alarm clock. Better yet, getting rid of clocks.

* listening to a silence that is punctuated only by scolding birds and croaking frogs.

* looking at a stack of books and having the time to read them, uninterrupted.

* taking until noon to slowly shower, get dressed and drink coffee.

* drinking coffee in the afternoon.

* taking a drive just to meander.

* going nowhere for a whole day.

* pondering nothing or everything while soaking in a beautiful mountain view.

* engaging in deliberate conversations.

* shutting off all technology, except the coffee pot.

* eating cheese curls in the morning.

* watching Casablanca for the thirteenth time.

Whether you are gathered around a snapping bonfire, cheering on your favorite ball team, reading a good book or sitting still on a veranda, I hope you are able to carve out a little leisure time this summer. Your soul will thank you for it.

Summit

I am not a mountain climber and I don't intend to add such nonsense to my bucket list. I  prefer to breathe my oxygen without the help of a tank-toting Sherpa. My book adventures and a few mini-mountain hikes have shed some light on how difficult it might be to finish the last few steps of a grand summit so I will leave that kind of trauma to the experts.

One mountain climbing expedition I do experience on a yearly basis is the school term. The adventure usually begins at base camp in August as we equip ourselves with sturdy shoes, pencils with erasers, uncluttered desks (for a few moments), posters, pens with ink and fresh lesson plan ideas. Orientation meetings fill our time as we struggle to keep our thoughts from wandering toward an ever expanding to-do list. Frantic errands include stocking up on everything from toothpaste to toilet paper as days of leisurely shopping quickly fade into history. Conversations are lively as we chat with fellow trail trompers, some new to the experience and others who have many notches on their walking sticks.

After much preparation, the first bell rings and in the blink of an eye, the journey begins. Spirits are high and a sense of nervous expectation settles upon us. Introductions are made and a rally cry for teamwork builds as we hope to follow the best route to the top of the mountain. Some will lead the way, some will carry our packs, some will cheer us up, some will teach us grave lessons, some will stretch us and a few will leave the trail behind.

About halfway up the mountain, the gravity of our task becomes very apparent. Feet become sore, relationships start to fray and time seems to slow down. The map reveals no shortcuts and the trail begins a steeper grade. Signs warn of falling rock and slippery terrain. Now, more than ever, our resolve will be tested. Creature comforts are coveted and the little things become bigger than the mountain itself.

Forging ahead, we put one foot in front of the other until we reach the final camp. We are aware of the challenges facing us and question our ability to complete the task. Our packs get heavier and our bodies rebel in cranky resistance. The grade looks almost vertical and there are no buses heading back down the mountain.

We put our boots on, grab our sticks, look forward and trudge onward. Baby step by baby step, we inch our way to the top. After an eternity of a few days, the almost unimaginable happens. We summit. The posters are down, the broken pencils are tossed, the lesson plans are finished, the desks are cleared, lockers are emptied and goodbyes are said.

Now we celebrate.

Hello summer.

Double Life

Strike up the band. Butter is back. According to a recent article in our local paper, the little rectangular delights are steadily climbing back into the fridges of consumers. Apparently, folks prefer a food label that has recognizable ingredients.

Here's the real scoop. Butter never left. It has been faithfully nestled in the dairy department for as many years as I have been shopping and that would be many, many years. It quietly suffered through the low-fat craze. It made space for margarine, the darling of the baking world. It puzzled its way through the "I-can't-believe-it's-not-butter" era. It kept the same shape, the same packaging and the same nondescript name, butter. My fridge has always made room for butter. Not because it is fashionable or fancy or pretty. It has a home with me because it is unpretentiously tasty. And its labels are easy to read.

Eggs suffered a similar malignment phase. Happy little chickens pumping out happy little eggs for centuries until one day the dreaded "study" is released. Suddenly, the little ovals of delight are touted as hardened criminals intent on sabotaging any hope for good health. Arteries would be clogged irreparably, LDLs would soar and cookie dough would forever be contaminated. Fast forward to one of today's ads: Eggs, the perfect food. Well, shiver me timbers. Of course it is. Eggs are little pre-packaged snacks of plentiful goodness. Versatile, economical, tasty and hard working. Welcome back, dear eggs. You will always have a place of honor next to the butter in my refrigerator.

And let's not forget chocolate. My generation suffered through years of chocolate warnings. It will make you fat. It will give you pimples. It has no nutritional value. It will make you hyper. Thank goodness, the nutrition gods de-bunked a few of those myths. Retail shelves are now lined with a myriad of choices. Sea salt, lavender and chili powder are being added as enhancements. Cocao percentages are boldly printed as badges of honor and value. Bitter, semi-sweet, dark, milk and unsweetened are common prefixes. The only thing missing is simplicity. Plain old Hershey's chocolate bars will continue to be snugly tucked away in my cupboard. A little dab will do you and the jumbo size comes in handy when friends are involved.

Last but not least is the lowly nut. We were led to believe that nuts were so chock full of fat that they had no redeeming value other than a texture boost in baked goods. Not so, after all. Now, just about every weight loss program, nutritional plan and Dr. Ozite heralds nuts as the perfect snack choice. High protein, fiber and good fats--the trifecta of wellness. Walnuts, almonds, pistachios, hazelnuts, take your pick. Add them to chocolate and oh my, baby, now we're talking.

Enjoy your omelettes, buttered toast and Nutella. And hopefully, a cure for all diseases will be announced soon and its name will be Cheeto.