Easter is my favorite holiday, ever. Hands down. I am not a regular church going person, but something about the story of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection does not fail to move me. I used to go to a Unitarian church and when they told this story it was just so universal and moving.
A friend once told me (very insightfully) that they would notice me “going down” in the fall, sort of falling into a dark place, maybe a little down, but that I never failed to experience this rebirth in the spring, right around Easter. So this weekend was very moving for me – I had just received this diabetes diagnosis, and part of me was so freaked out and sad and worried that Life As I Knew It was really over. It was truly like a little death in many ways, death of a kind of life I had become so used to.
I planned out this huge Easter brunch feast for today. I am normally all about the potluck, and having friends bring dishes, but today I was determined to DO IT ALL myself. I made a marmalade glazed ham, a poached salmon with cucumber dill sauce, scalloped potatoes, an asparagus quiche, a spinache quiche, a caramelized onion, sage and goat cheese frittata, a brown/wild rice & asparagus salad, a green salad, hot cross buns and Easter bread. For dessert there was a raspberry swirl cheesecake, a fruit tart, a raspberry tart and strawberry shortcake. (we had a lot of people over!!)
It was probably over the top. Although I have to say we do not have a lot of leftovers!! I think I had something to prove to myself. That I could still celebrate and enjoy life. That I could make certain dishes and be okay with not eating them, or eating them in small amounts. And a lot of other things I’m probably not even conscious of.
I was so happy at the table with everyone enjoying it so much. I had some ham (the inside part, without the marmalade), frittata (“quiche without the crust”), salad and salmon. It was so delicious. I felt completely satisfied and happy. After brunch we took a lovely walk in the park nearby, before dessert. It was the most beautiful sunny day. After the walk I tested my blood and it was a very nice 110, AFTER DINNER. I allowed a tiny sliver of cheescake, some coffee and strawberries with whipped cream. All SO GOOD.
I’m feeling very emotional now. Feeling like, this is possible. I can still have my life. And more.
April 12, 2009 at 11:16 pm
Wow, what a spread! It’s great that you were able to exercise portion control with all of those choices! You are really doing so well, both with the weight-loss and with managing your diabetes!
April 13, 2009 at 2:15 am
am so happy for you! I am glad that you had such a wonderful day, you deserved it!
April 13, 2009 at 11:12 am
Wow. that is sooo good. And I think that all the lifestyle changes you made (fitness, exercise, and eating changes) months before diagnosis has helped your transition. Can you imagine having made the dietary changes (low-carb) abruptly–I suspect it would have been more traumatic. There is grief, but I am glad you have made room to move forward in your psyche as well. 🙂
April 13, 2009 at 3:20 pm
Congrats on eating well!! My twin sister is diabetic and has to watch every morsel that goes into her mouth!!
You should check out her blog http://www.biz319.wordpress.com
She shows calories, carbs for everything she eats.
She has to take insulin and because we are twins, I will probably get it at some point in my life, but knock on wood, I am still fine 6 years after her diagnosis!
April 13, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Jennifer, biz is one of my heroines and is already on my blogroll! Great to meet you!!!
April 13, 2009 at 4:37 pm
My sister just sent me your link as “new blog find” and I was like, “she’s on my blog roll!”
Awesome 110 AFTER dinner – yahoo! Doing the happy dance with you!
And love the jeans pant story – I’d still go around saying you are a size 8! 😀