Chef Crystal... Not So Much!

For the past couple of days I've been under the weather -- sore throat, wicked cough and an ear infection to be precise. I've been taking extra meds and resting up because tonight I was hosting Feast (Feast of 'Izzat) for the first time. My first Feast as a Baha'i was so incredibly memorable that I wanted to use my first time hosting Feast as a way to say thanks. This morning, I attempted to go to work but was sent home before 11:00 because of my seal-esque bark. I was hoping to use all the extra time to prepare an actual feast. I dusted off my cookbook (literally), pulled out all of my kitchen equipment still in its original box and picked the most fabulous thing I could find that would feed 20! I had decided on stuffed salmon, garlic lime chicken, roasted rosemary red potatoes and steamed green beans and carrots. Not bad for someone who hasn't cooked since inviting my Ruhi group over for lunch and movie... in June. Honestly.

After I got home at 11:15, I decided a couple of swigs of NyQuil would do the trick. Right? Wrong. What it did do was put me in a coma-like sleep... until 5:45 and Feast was starting at 7:00. Seriously, I thought I'd go into coronary failure. I kept staring at the alarm clock, that I didn't set, hoping I was still dreaming. After shedding a tear or two, I did the only thing I could do - prepare a salad, make a semi-cheesecake, pop in a Mrs. Smith Apple Pie and let Pizza Hut do the rest of the work. I can't even articulate how horrible I felt about not being able to prepare a homemade meal for my dear friends.

Everyone started to arrive around 7:15 and I apologized to the first few guests for being a horrible hostess. Then I realized, no one cared! In fact, everyone seemed to enjoy the pizza and salad. After my reality check, I started to breathe a little easier and as always, enjoyed the company of my wonderful Arlington Baha'i community. Between being sick and being sick to my stomach about what's going on in New Orleans, I've just kind of glum for the past few days. I was totally amazed at how just being amidst my Friends breathed new life into me. You can't tell me that positive energy and big hugs aren't instruments of healing! For those two and a half hours, my cough wasn't so wicked; my throat didn't burn so much and I could hear out of my left ear.

I was extremely sad to announce to my community that I would be leaving in a few months because they really are just an amazing, amazing group. Because of their openness, willingness to teach and patience to answer the 1,000,001 questions that I had as a seeker, my life will never be the same. I will leave this community a better person , with a renewed sense of purpose and I have them to thank for that. Yep, definitely going to miss each and every one of them.

I plan to work from home and take it easy tomorrow because I have a marathon weekend ahead of me. Saturday morning, the early childhood educators for the 2005-2006 school year of the One World Baha'i School will be meeting to coordinate and fellowship. After that I will have my favoritiest two little boys in the whole world for the whole day! I haven't kept children overnight since my nannying days in undergrad but from what I hear, it's like riding a bike (which isn't the best reference for me as I have not mastered the art of riding a two-wheeler). Sunday we're having orientation for all the OWBS teachers and I'm really looking forward to that. School starts Sunday, September 18 and I'm co-teaching with Sara, my twin. Seriously, Sara and I have so much in common, it's scary! We have the same birthday, same year even (September 17, 1981... yes, we're planning a party!);. We have the same occupation, work for the same company, drive identical cars and have similar family structures... it's nuts! She wasn't going to teach this year but came out of retirement to help me with my first year and I'm so grateful to her for that. I had horrible visions of my pre-k kids staging a coup because they knew more about the Baha'i Faith than their green teacher. With Sara the Vet by my side, I'm feeling much more optimistic about this.

Well, I have a meeting with a cup of NyQuil and my comfy bed, which now has 1,000 thread count Sateen sheets thanks to overstock.com.

Good night kiddies!