I understand the concept of allowing meat to rest so that the juices reconstitute and the first bite and every bite thereafter is flavorful and delicious. Amen. But who has the time to wait? I’m usually hungry before I even start cooking so that extra fifteen minutes of loitering around the cutting board at the end just kills me. Now that I’ve rejoined the working world (yay), I have to plan meals in advance so that I’m not running up big tabs by ordering in. But the last thing I want to do after the workday is more work. I’d much prefer a little sit down to rest.
I remember my Mom would be on the couch with us occasionally while something was coming up to a boil on the stove or roasting in the oven, and while waiting for the timer, she’d close her eyes for a minute or two while we were hanging out watching TV. When we’d pop over to see if she was really sleeping, she never admitted to actually having a little snooze– she’d claim that she was just “resting her eyes!” A power nap is such a good thing– I’m not sure why she avoided telling us that she was just exhausted and needed some shuteye.
I love a good nap. I’ve always been a good sleeper and my parents used to joke that I could probably sleep standing up. I can nap on planes, I have no problem dozing off in a car, and I look forward to a serious siesta in the middle of the afternoon on the weekends. I sometimes say that I have the power to N.O.C.– Nap On Command. My son has always been a great sleeper, too. As a teenager he could easily clock 14 hours of zzzz’s a night. Now as a college kid, Matty sometimes checks in around 3 or 4 in the afternoon as he’s about to grab breakfast (breakfast!), or Meal One, as we call it.
Without a good night’s sleep, the first thing I think about in my morning shower is how excited I’m going to be later when I get to rest my head on the pillow and go right back to slumberland once again. And then I think about what I’m going to make for dinner and it reminds me that I have to go grocery shopping, so maybe takeout is a better option? I’m sure I’ll be feeling tired and I’ll want to rest.
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