Be Happy Anyway

Be Happy Anyway
From Brave Girls Club

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

The Power of Baking

I had given up entirely. Given up on finding a job.

I decided that I was going to just get used to being at home and painting and doing other homey things.

So today, I saw two very ripe bananas sitting on the microwave. I couldn't just let them go to the fruit flies, and I don't have compost bin. The only logical thing to do was make banana bread. Then the challenges began.

The butter was too cold to cream with sugar so I just left it in a bowl to get to room temperature. Then I decided it wouldn't hurt to put the sugar on top while it was waiting but then I got carried away. I measured flour and baking powder on top of the uncreamed butter and I hadn't even added the eggs yet. What was I to do? I considered dumping it all and starting over but thought better of it. I just let it sit, much like I did while I waited to hear about my job interview.

After a couple of hours, I decided to try again. I got out a whisk and a wooden spoon (don't have a hand mixer) and pulled the stick of butter aside and poured the flour and sugar into another bowl. I beat the butter and bananas together and added the eggs to that. I know the sugar should be in there too, but it was already in flour. I gradually mixed the flour/sugar in with wet mix until it looked like a wet dough. Things were looking up. When I put the dough/batter in the pan, I said a little prayer and put it in the deflicted oven and prayed a little more. I closed the oven door....

That's when the phone rang. It was the career college I had applied to and interviewed at the other day. Could it be?? Were they calling me for a job or to tell me I was not selected?

Woo Hoo! I have a job. I will be teaching psychology three days a week. I start Thursday.

The moral of the story?? I will let you all write one for me. I will take them to heart. I have learned some valuable lessons during this long time of unemployment (yes I know there are those who have had it worse.)

Oh, I guess you would like to know how the banana bread turned out? Check it out for yourself:
Mmmm!

The Music Notes Are Back: You are listening to the Silhouettes singing "Get a Job," my mantra for the past four months. This is another song from the road trip 8 Track that my uncle used to play for us when we drove from New York to Disney World circa 1977. Some other great tunes included Nash Rambler and Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Polka Dot Bikini. Great times in the station wagon with 5 kids and 2 parents and no seat belts.

7 comments:

carrhop said...

SO thrilled for you! Congrats, congrats, congrats! And I bet the banana bread was delish!

Blessings!
J

MJ said...

Delightful! I am envious that you've found a meaningful job (in your field) that is part-time! I'd give my eye-teeth to find the same for me! I've decided I will be returning to work FT but am waiting for the right opportunity.

I really admire that you ventured into baking without a hand-mixer! Perhaps that will be on your Xmas list?

Unknown said...

I often think that once you let go of worries it's then that things just fall into place but when you hold on to them they become stumbling blocks. I think that's the real meaning of treasures of your heart. Yay to the new job, baking and a successful banana bread :)

GG said...

Congratulations. Very happy for you. Enjoy your new job. Wow ... psychology ... eh...thats alot of deep thinking,self searching, analyzing stuff.... :) hmmmm...bread looks yummy....:)

miruspeg said...

I am so happy for you Annemarie, wonderful news about your new job AND a successful banana cake!!
With both you had to endeavour a lot of time and patience and guess what, you succeeded.
So proud of you my friend for staying strong.
Warmest hugs
Peggy xxxxxx

Marit said...

WOOOHOOOO Annemarie!!! Congratulations girl! You sooo deserved it! And what a celebration: bananabread. I never tasted it myself but it sure looks yummie!

Thinkie said...

The moral of this story: banan bread makes for a good day.

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