Friday, August 4, 2017

In the Eye, Perspective: Secret Subject Swap

Welcome a Secret Subject Swap. This month 11 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts. Read through mine and at the bottom you’ll find links to all of today’s other Secret Subject participants.

Secret Subject Swap, a multi-blogger writing challenge | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics


My subject is: Then she found herself facing the eye of the storm.
It was submitted by: Jules of The Bergham Chronicles.

I had to laugh when I saw this prompt. No, as subjects go it's not really a funny one. But it brought me back 5 years to the day I started my blog.

I'd had never considered blogging, in fact I didn't really know anything about starting one. I was on FB one day and three friends, one of whom does blog, talked me into it. Once I'd buckled to peer pressure, there was the problem of picking a name. It actually would not have been a problem at all if my first choice, which came to me pretty quickly, were available. But "Eye of the Storm" was taken. I came up with a few other possibilities, but I was deflated at not getting my first choice. And I couldn't really figure out which of the other names I'd come up with I liked best. 

I took it as a sign, decided not to bother. The friend who has a pretty successful blog told me to just pick something. I'd thought the name would be so important, it would represent me, or at least the place I am in life. She disagreed, "pick a name" she said "it's not the name of the blog, it's what you have to say." Just then, PurDude, not yet named PurDude as he was just a few years into high school, walked into the den. I told him what I was trying to do and showed him the possible names I'd come up with. Without skipping a beat he said "Baking In A Tornado" and kept walking. It's possible he picked just anything to get his old mama off his back, but whether born out of thought or born out of haste, the rest, as they say, is history.

In hindsight, it suits me. Well, actually. Because when I'm heading towards the eye of that storm, (besides drinking and crying), what I do is bake.


S'mores Dessert Enchiladas, all the flavors of a s'more baked in an enchilada shell and topped with fresh strawberries. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert

S'mores Dessert Enchiladas

S'mores Dessert Enchiladas, all the flavors of a s'more baked in an enchilada shell and topped with fresh strawberries. | Recipe developed by www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe #dessert



Perspective. It's a magical thing. When you're able to find it, it can change everything. That gaping wound is suddenly a cut. 

When I first found out that College Boy had asthma I was heartbroken. There were many times I watched him struggle valiantly to breathe, made trips to the ER, put him on daily meds and bought our own nebulizer. I railed against that diagnosis. How unfair, this sweet innocent child has to suffer from such a frightening disease. I kept saying to myself "but I don't want him to have asthma."

It was my brother Peter who eventually brought me perspective. Peter had died of cancer at the age of 20, about 5 years previously. It was on the anniversary of Peter's death that I realized what I was unable to see all along. It wasn't "I don't want my child to have asthma", it was "I hope this is the worst thing my child ever has." I suddenly had not just resignation, but a measure of peace. Some may feel this is exploitative, I chose to see it as a gift.

As my boys went through life and struggled with this and that, suffered with illnesses and became frustrated with their limitations, I always said to them "everyone has something, this is yours, if you're going to live, we'll take it."


Then she found herself facing the eye of the storm. 

Perspective is a struggle these days. Honestly, I'm a bit battered and bruised by not just circumstances, but by my own inadequacy at handling them.

There are some things that could possibly kill you, situations that could go either way, and the added stress of not knowing how it will go can be overwhelming. There are those that have the capacity to beat you down in increments. And although the eye of the storm provides a momentary respite, it also brings the knowledge that you're only half way through.

So I'll keep baking and blogging and yes, drinking and crying, and working at finding my way back to that desperately needed point of reference called perspective.

Here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:


Baking In A Tornado signature | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics






S'mores Dessert Enchiladas
                                               ©www.BakingInATornado.com


Ingredients:
6 ten inch tortillas
3/4 cup nutella
6 TBSP graham cracker crumbs
3 cups mini marshmallows 
1/2 stick butter
2 TBSP brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon 

fresh sliced strawberries 
whipped cream 

Directions:
*Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease an 8 X 11 glass baking dish.
*Leaving about 1/2 inch along the edges, spread about 2 TBSP nutella into the center of each tortilla. Sprinkle 1 TBSP graham cracker crumbs over the nutella, then arrange about 1/2 cup of mini marshmallows down the center.
*Roll the tortillas around the filling and place, seam side down, into the prepared baking dish. Tuck under about 1/2 inch of the tops and bottoms so they fit in the dish.
*Melt the butter. Mix in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Pour over the tortillas.
*Bake for 20 minutes. Remove from oven, top with fresh strawberries and serve.


28 comments:

  1. Recipe looks amazing, as always. And yes, the eye of the storm is just a respite, but for me, it gives me what I need to keep going. Can't wait for BOTH of us to come out the other side. We'll get there.

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    Replies
    1. Yes we will. Guess we're both in it for the long haul, not that we have a choice.

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  2. I agree with Minette! That looks amazing! I'm so happy you started that blog 5 years ago!...even though I'd probably weigh 50 lbs less. Well worth it!

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  3. I agree, "perpective" is key.

    The other day I saw a statement that Sandra Bullock gave after people badmouthed her for being old and not all that talented, blablabla. She concluded with "I want you do find joy, cause worrying will not do you any good".
    So lose the crying and focus on the baking, blogging and moderate drinking and you'll be fine!
    PS: I think as you start a blog, the name IS important. It's all you have to attract readers. Later if what you have to say is speaking to them, you can be called all you want.

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    Replies
    1. Smart words from Sandra, although I'd expect her perspective is a lot easier given where she is now.

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  4. Always loved the name of your blog---it suits you well. Perseverance and strength.

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  5. Perspective is everything! I think this dessert should be illegal. I am a bit surprised you have not incorporated a liquor into it too, than it would be banned in Boston for sure!

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    Replies
    1. Oh you know I can easily add liquor to this (well, to anything, really).

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  6. I work with someone who lost her brother to cancer. He was 26 and married less than two years (his wife knew the diagnosis and went ahead with the wedding). Her son is now approaching that age. When I vent about something in my life, I have to sometimes stop and think...there are worse things than what I am going through. Yes, perspective. Alana ramblinwitham.blogspot.com

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    Replies
    1. Without a doubt when things get really tough we do need to remind ourselves of that perspective.

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  7. What a fun blogging idea, and also I want to make this recipe right now!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, we really do have a lot of fun with this challenge. And I think you SHOULD make this recipe right now.

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  8. Awh, so glad I stopped by to read this. Now I know the story behind your blog! I really like your perspective too: "everyone has something..." Good luck with gaining perspective and getting through the rest of the storm.

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  9. I had no idea that's how you got your name! And it's like the best blog name ever, I've always been jealous because it's so perfect and so the you I've come to know lol. Perspective can be so hard when you're in the thick of it, especially when it comes to our babies. I hate not being in control, yet that's really what parenting is...a complete lack of it <3

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    Replies
    1. Of course you're right, once you become a parent you lose all control. There are instances when we can deal with it, and then there are those instances that just stomp on our hearts.

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  10. Recipe looks good and as a mom with "sick" children, we loose our prospective, we get tired, we feel like giving up but then we bake, drink, cry and continue on. HUGS my friend!!

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  11. Excellent perspective. We've been through that storm the past two years. Maybe we aren't better people because of it and maybe we haven't learned anything profound, but we're still here and we're still together, so I'll take it!

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  12. I remember you telling me how you came to name your blog nad I loved it. So creative and perfect, PurDude is a genius.

    no matter how crazy my life gets, I love that you have created a wonderful community of writers who share ideas and promtps, and all feel safe to be who we are.

    Thank you!!!!

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    Replies
    1. You've been in these challenges since the beginning, and I love the fun way you always approach your prompts. So glad we're friends.

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  13. Creating, whether baking or one of the other things I enjoy, is THE thing that centers me. I feel better when I'm chasing a creative endeavor, and it always helps my anxiety. I don't get it exactly, but it seems like the more I work on, the better I feel, and the more I get done. So I totally get the name. It does fit, and it makes perfect sense.

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    1. I completely agree, it helps my anxiety too. I think partly because it requires my concentration, keeps my mind occupied. Whatever the reason, I'm glad I got a love of baking from my mom, and the blog name from my son.

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