I was having a conversation with my mom about this journal I was given when I was diagnosed with cancer. This journal is comprised of one hundred writing prompts concerning stories about my life that I would like to pass on to my loved ones in case they wanted to know these things.
So I asked my mom some of the questions. One of which was, “What did you think of your mother’s cooking?” She said that her mother always made roast on Sundays… every Sunday. She would make the roast with potatoes and carrots. Ma stated that her mom had to make pretty big meals considering she had eight kids, herself, and her husband to fill. She knew she could always count on a roast for Sunday dinner.
She said that her mom would make liver and onions for her dad sometimes because he loved it. However, she would make something else for my mom and her brothers and sisters because liver and onions are gross!
“If you were going to be stranded on a desert island for a year, what would you pack to bring with you?”
My mom said: “I guess I would bring my tea and my sugar. I guess I would be able to quit smoking. So I wouldn’t need my cigarettes. I just need my sweet tea. I would also bring my clothes and stuff like that, but I need my tea.”
“Is there anything else you would bring?”
“Oh, I would have to bring my chocolate. And I don’t know what I would be able to eat on a desert, because I ain’t eating no fish. Bleck! I guess I could be a vegetarian because I’m not killing any animals. I’ll have to set up a little garden or farm so that I have food. But I can’t stand fish and seafood.”
“Say you have a house that is fully furnished already there. What would you bring to pass the time?”
“I could use my seek and find book. If I had food already, I would bake. I would bake peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip cookies, pineapple upside down cake, German chocolate cake, and other stuff. I might experiment around with different recipes. I do like apple pie, but I would rather have cake than pie. Would I have electric?”
“Yes, you would have solar panels.”
“Oh, so I could bake in the oven. I wouldn’t have eggs for my baking and stuff, so I would have to have a store or something. I wouldn’t do well on a desert island. hahah.”
“I would definitely have rice with me. Regular shipments of rice because I eat that everyday. And quinoa. It’s a great source of fiber and protein. But you are right, I wouldn’t do well on a deserted island as well. However, I could probably live in a convent if I were given my Bible, a bed, yarn and a crochet hook. My regular meals would have to be at least rice, quinoa, olive oil, and water. Oh yeah, and a private, walled in bathroom. Even if it was just a stand up shower, toilet, and sink, that would be okay as long as I can not be seen while in there. So a room with a private bathroom that has a bed, yarn, crochet hook, Bible, bed, a small pot with a lid, spoon, small counter top burner, rice, quinoa, olive oil, vitamins, medicine (I have cancer so medicine is an absolute necessity) and plumbing and electricity. Those are my bare minimum. I could communicate with my family and friends. But if I resided in this little room, I would be a happy camper.”
“Wow, it seems as though you have thought about this a lot.”
“Nope, that just came off the top of my noggin.”
And that ends that conversation. It was a bit weird, but at least it is recorded.
What is your bare necessities? Would you add anything to this? Would you change any of this? Would you be able to live in solitary confinement if you had these items, or would you have to live with someone? Am I a hermit?
Gotta go fill up my cup…..
Coffee with Candee 