[Note: This piece was originally published as part of an Insiders newsletter. That’ll make more sense as you scroll down.]
Just when she thought it was safe…
The lady in the kitchen piped up with a new request.
Can Annie do it? Read on! –the editor
Greetings, Folks!
Back again with another installment of … Life at Jedemi HQ (or more specifically — What’s Cookin’ at Jedemi?).
Enjoy!!
WHERE’S THE MUSH?
INT. JEDEMI HQ KITCHEN – EARLY MORNING
It’s early morning and Annie is scribbling away in her
journal
Tap. Tap. Tap.
She keeps on writing and drawing.
ANNIE’S JOURNAL
That’s funny. I hear my ears the
tapping, but… like… we’re done
for the week, right? It’s gotta
be…
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Annie, directs her attention to the corner near the window.
ANNIE
Oh… Right… Good morning, Boss!
Forget something did we?
MS.DCG
You guys did great. The
gathering… the fireplace doing…
fireplace things… the food… the
beverages… a yeoman’s effort that
was truly over the top.
ANNIE
Thanks, Boss! I’ll let Mr D know
because… he rocked all aspects.
MS.DCG
You had a hand in it…
Literally… I saw you clearing out
the fireplace.
ANNIE
Doing what I do, Boss. Anyway,
what’s got you tapping away this
AM?
MS.DCG
Mush.
ANNIE
Mush? But…
MS.DCG
You haven’t made any since I
arrived.
ANNIE
Yes, and…
MS.DCG
I saw you had like a monster bag of
steel cuts.
ANNIE
You know my David doesn’t do
anything small. We ran out in early
November and went with a small
store bought can before he could
hit Costco… for a Costco-sized
bag of Bob’s.
Note: Monster = 7 lbs which is roughly 15 batches (or 15
weeks worth of daily mush for one person).
MS.DCG
Nice backstory… Now help me
understand why haven’t you been
making Mush.
ANNIE
When I WAS making it, it was for
you, Boss. Obviously, that
stopped…
MS.DCG
Young lady… Do you think I’m the
only one who’d benefit from Mush
for breakfast?
ANNIE
Er… no. I’m sure David would like
some especially as we are having a
very typical March with chilly
winds. Mush tastes good and puts a
nice warm glow in your belly.
MS.DCG
Not to mention what you always
pestered me about… keeping the
blood sugar balanced.
Don’t let it go to your head,
but… You were right.
ANNIE
Aw… Thanks for saying so, Boss.
Too bad Dr Patel didn’t get to see
your improved A1C numbers.
MS.DCG
Well… you dragged me kicking and
screaming as they say, but after a
while, I kinda liked that Mush
first, half scone later with my
Peet’s routine.
ANNIE
(smiles) Yeah? I noticed that you
didn’t drink coffee at skilled
nursing or residential or…
MS.DCG
It wasn’t Peet’s. Didn’t really
miss it either. But the Mush…
That did the trick.
ANNIE
So, what are you thinking?
MS.DCG
Keeping you in the Mush business.
ANNIE
Uh… Okay, so who am I Mushing
besides our household?
MS.DCG
The exercise group.
ANNIE
Your Cardio Rehab pals?
MS.DCG
Of course. Ask Nurse Bobbi. She’ll
agree that giving out Mush after
class is a better choice…
ANNIE
But they like their cookies.
They can have their Mush and cookies too.
MS.DCG
They can have their Mush and
cookies too.
Now she’s cracking herself up. The spontaneous laughing is contagious and Annie joins in.
ANNIE
Okay, Funny Lady… er Boss. I’ll
get busy on batching up some Mush.
Do it like I did for you… in
portions that can be pulled from
the freezer and nuked…
MS.DCG
Yes. Microwaved with milk and…
ANNIE
Your pinch of brown sugar…
MS.DCG
Yes, of course.
ANNIE
I’ll throw in cinnamon and some
chopped almonds and pecans for
texture.
MS.DCG
Sounds good… Yummy too!
Figuring the Boss was done, Annie returned to her writing &
drawing.
ANNIE’S JOURNAL
Looks like I’m back in the Mush
business. Wonder how many I’ll need
to make? Maybe 3 Dolores-size
batches per week will cover the
class. Hard to say though.
Tap. Tap. Tap.
Annie, once again directs her attention to the corner near
the window.
ANNIE
Something else I can help you with,
Boss?
MS.DCG
No rush… but I’ve been
thinking… About food…
ANNIE
Of course you have, you’re hanging
out in our kitchen — a live action
version of the Food Network.
This time Annie’s laughing.
MS.DCG
The ladies –my full time care givers
–were onto something.
What they were doing… worked. The
meals they made me…
I got stronger. I could feel it.
Truly helped. You saw, right?
ANNIE
Saw everything Boss. You racing up
and down your hallway when Joleen
was here for your PT sessions AND,
the meals the ladies gave you.
MS.DCG
You saw the meals?
ANNIE
I have a phone full of before and
after pictures. And then I came and
witnessed your improvement.
The adjustments weren’t radical…
The types of food were just different
for you. You seemed to adapt well.
MS.DCG
Felt stronger. Could tell the difference.
And for a while there, I
really thought I’d be able to get
into my car — back seat of course,
so you could do your Ubering
properly (laughs).
There’s a pause as Annie ponders her new task.
ANNIE
Okay… So let me see if I
understand where you’re heading —
You want me to write about the
meals? The food combinations? The
simple but consistent approach to
getting stronger?
MS.DCG
That’s the idea. They send you home
with pages and pages of medications
and side effects, but nothing
addresses diet… the nutritional
component to wellness… What
works. What’s doable…
ANNIE
Ah… what’s actionable. So, you’re
cool with me sharing the pictures?
I can only write about what I
know… The results I saw. I’m not
a nutrition major, though I play
one at…
MS.DCG
For goodness sake! Don’t overthink
it. Just write and post and share
and encourage others to share,
okay?
ANNIE
Gotcha, Boss!
MS.DCG
Now get out of here for your run.
Burning daylight!
ANNIE
Will do!
And with that, Annie took off — pondering Mush
and the large number of meal pictures on her phone.
FADE OUT
Truly… That’s a Wrap…
Thanks for reading!
-Annie and The Gang with Dolores Goltra
Bonus Pics…
This last one I dubbed “Clean plate club.”
Getting stronger was the goal and she was well on her way.
Thanks again, for reading. Please comment below.
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