Last Tuesday, I zip home from work, change my clothes and walk Scamp twice as long as I usually do because I’m trying to put some distance between me and all those Peanut Buster Parfaits I ate this summer. I’ve been wearing a Fitbit, and wasn’t even close to my goal of 10,000 steps a day. So I put the pedal to the metal (or the New Balance on the black top, as it were).
Got home and whipped together a new healthy recipe for Pork Cacciatore (made with pork tenderloin) and served on spiralized zucchini. Of course, the recipe takes longer than it says on the instructions. Am I the slowest cook in the world or does this happen to you, too? Cooking healthy and exercising is worth it, but God, it’s time consuming! Of course, I could have just thrown the pork on the grill, steamed up some veggies, but I had my mind set on trying that recipe.
So finally Charlie and me sit down to dinner, about an hour later than we usually do, but for once he’s not chomping at the bit. See, he’s been reading this article in “Field and Stream” about extreme jungle fly fishing, and he’s totally into it. So we’re eating, and Charlie’s sharing the story with me. And I confess, I’m only half listening, because I’m thinking about what I want to get done that evening.
“Dinosaur fish?” I says, trying to stay with it.
“Yup. They only live in this one river in Africa. Really hard to catch. Big deal if you do.”
“Really?” I say, as I begin my own conversation in my head. You know, the one between the good me and the bad me.
“Ida,” the good me says, “look at Charlie! He’s so excited about this story. Just cool your jets and enjoy it.”
“Yeah, but I wish he’d stop talking and finish up. I still need to do the dishes, and I want to do a quick vacuum, and touch up the bathroom for book group Thursday.”
“That’s two days away! What difference is fifteen minutes going to make?”
“Well, I want to have time to sit down with the new O magazine after, and have a frozen coconut fruit bar before turning in.”
“You’ll get it done. And if you don’t, so what? It’ll all work out.”
“That’s easy for you to say. But I have to get it done tonight because tomorrow night I’m setting the table and making that new appetizer.”
“Come on, what’s more important, Ida? Charlie or a clean toilet?”
I actually hesitated on that one. Like I had to think about it. And in that pause, I notice Charlie’s staring at me.
“Situation like that,” he says, “what would you do?”
“Uh, I don’t know, Charlie. What would you have done?”
“Tough call,” he says, getting up from the table. “Anyways, that was good, whatever it was.”
“Thanks, Charlie. Glad you liked. Wow! Those dinosaur fish sure are something!”
“That they are,” he replies.
Jumping up from the table, I launch into my “to do” list. It’s only later that night, about four in the morning actually, when I’m thinking about Charlie and how wound up he was about those dinosaur fish, and my heart starts to ache. You know, sometimes I can get so caught up doing things I think are “urgent,” I lose track of what’s important.
That’s it for now. Catch you on the flip side!
Hear Ida Tell It: Charlie and the Dinosaur Fish
This Fall
September 25: A Visit With Ida, South Berwick Senior Center, 11:00am, South Berwick, ME
October 17: The Moose in Me, The Moose in You!, National Hospice Volunteer Conference, 8:00pm, Holiday Inn By the Bay, Portland, ME
November 3: Cold River Radio Show Live featured storyteller, 7:00pm, Theatre in the Wood, Intervale, NH
Bring Ida to your group. I love entertaining groups, small and large! The following are wicked fun for after lunch, after dinner, rewards banquets, keynote speeches and what not.
A Visit With Ida
This is a bunch of my favorite stories from all my shows, plus brand new ones. I custom design this program to meet your needs in terms of length and can feature subjects of interest: friendship, men, marriage, health, weight, life in a small town, seasonal stories, you name it!
The Moose in Me, The Moose in You
Move over Oprah! I have found my “inner moose” and become a Certified Maine Life Guide. After years of “Running with the Moose”, I’ve picked up a few pointers. And you know what? It turns out, you can learn a lot about life from a moose. In this motivational moose-terpiece, I’ll cover topics from A to Zumba, and offer helpful hints on to live a happier life.
A Holiday Visit With Ida
Join me as I celebrate the holidays with stories and reminiscences of Christmas time in the tiny town of Mahoosuc Mills, Maine. I just love Christmas, and I have the inside scoop on everything: the Not-So-Secret Santa plan, the do’s and don’ts of Holiday decorating and more! I’m no Scrooge, though, so banish your bah-humbug’s and come prepared to laugh!
For more information, contact Susan at: ida@idaswebsite.com