smells and memories...

I am cooking a meal for my wonderful friend Stacey ~ she just had a beautiful baby boy Christopher Michael.

It is Pioneer Woman's Chicken Spaghetti. One thing to know about me...I love everything about food and cooking and tools to cook with ~ I even love to read cookbooks for pleasure! But I don't think I am a very good cook. So it is a big deal when I cook and accept the possibility of the person not liking it! ha ha

Anyway, I was sauteing the onion and bell pepper and thought about how it is one of my favorite smells. Then a memory hit me...

I had an apartment in Euless when Bridget and I got together. I loved that little place. It was so quiet and since it was upstairs, I could leave the windows open. I had a meal that I used to cook all the time that included bell peppers and onions. I remembered the first time I cooked for Bridget - it was the beginning of the relationship and I was scared of what was happening. Scared to let myself fall in love with someone and feel so vulnerable. I liked being alone. I liked my routine. But I knew that I was also searching for something that was missing in my life.

So here I am, again in my own little place, alone (for the next couple of nights anyway) and feeling a little scared and vulnerable. But I am stronger now and I know what it feels like to open yourself up and let someone love you and to love them back. No matter what happens, I am forever grateful to Bridget for that.