Suitcase Foodist

A Fork in the Works

A Fork in the Works

A Fork in the Works

I find myself at a crossroads.  This is not unusual for any of us – it is a daily occurrence.  Life’s little happenings continue to happen and we select a path. Our thoughts, actions, decisions and a little happenstance play a role in where we end up at the end of the day.

This crossroad was not one that I actively chose for myself.  Again, not so unusual.  Life likes to throw a wrench into our plans and see what we do with it.  Since this is a food blog, I would say that life just served me a fork; as in a literal fork in my path.

A Fork in the Works

 

I’ve spoken some about my day job – which I loved and was good at.  It involved all my passions: food, interesting people, making a difference in my little corner of the world.  I was challenged daily and one day was never a mirror image of the last.  It allowed me to have my fingers in lots of different pies.

In a way, it literally saved us.  It was the job I fell into after the hardest time in our early married life – that time when I lost my job and then Greg lost his job and life seemed particularly dark with only minimal pinpricks of light.

Now, for that fork.  Last week, I was given a choice:  Choose to stay with my company, with the possibility of a promotion or choose to walk away with a cushion to catch me if I really stumbled.  I think the hardest choices come when you have to choose between two good things – evidenced by how had it is for me to pick just one thing off a menu.

Not to cry over spilled milk.  I realize it is a great luxury to comfortably choose.

The first thing I ever memorized in school was the poem ‘The Road Not Taken’ by Robert Frost.  I learned it in 2nd grade I could recite it to this day.  So, I decided to embrace that fork and choose the path with all the surprises.  So, as of Monday this week, I am officially without a job.

I’m a little scared. My job had been so blended with my identity for almost 7 years.  I don’t know what I am going to do next.  I haven’t even digested what this all means.  Here I am taking a moment to live consciously, adultly, on a new path that I can’t even see yet.

A Fork in the Works

I took this photo at the top of the bell tower in St Mark’s Square in Venice. It seems very apt today.

Rather than fall into my next chapter, I want to craft the journey.  I am asking that you hold me accountable in just that.  I relish the idea of taking a moment just for me.  Hopefully, I’ll walk away knowing what I want to be when I grow up.  But if not, that’s OK too.

I am still mulling in that thought, stewing in the decision, stirred up in my emotions, keeping my eyes peeled and simmering down my goals – to toss ALL the food metaphors into a melting pot to steam.

For once, my plate is not too full to breathe much less think.  And so, please do stay tuned.

Lydia, with a 100% cleared table

P.S.  Bonus points if you can spot all the food references…

 

4 thoughts on “A Fork in the Works

  1. Kizmet

    AS Yogi Berra said, “When you get to the fork in the road, take it.” You are so talented in the path of food as well as on the road of writing. I have every confidence you will well navigate your route with its destinatidestination unknown. Much respect for you, Lydia Martinez who favors the color purple.

    1. Lydia Post author

      Thanks so much Laurie! That means a lot coming from such a bold brave woman. Excited for new things…