The Trouble with Pies

A pear pie made me stop blogging.

Rather, the promise of a pear pie.

No.  Precisely, the absence of a pear pie.

The day before we evacuated for Hurricane Gustav a handful of weeks ago, I dropped by our elderly neighbor's home to find out what their evacuation plans were and to share my family's.  They are a wonderful couple that have lived in this home for over thirty years, friendly and both interesting and interested.

Needless to say, I rarely visit them.  Yep, I'm that neighbor.  I'm the one that smiles and waves, greets you through the fence, buys lemonade at your child's lemonade stand, but generally doesn't step into your yard.

The day I stopped by to discuss evacuation plans was not the first time I had knocked on their door, but it was the first time I accepted an invitation to come inside.  I did not have our two toddler boys with me at the time, so was enjoying the rare moment in which I could make decisions independent of everyone else's immediate vicinity to impaling devices.  As such, I happily stepped into what I expected to be a very similar floor plan as our own home, our houses being two of the oldest on the street.

The home I found myself standing in was, instead, the home our house wishes it could be.  I did not hide my enthusiasm for their renovations, so the Mrs. welcomed me to tour the home with her so she could point out the changes.

After a walk-through that had my brain mapping out blueprints for the virtual mansion I wish our home could one day become (okay, more like bungalow with a larger family room), we returned to the kitchen to find the Mr. waiting for us with a plastic bag full of something heavy and plentiful.

Pears. 

Mr.:  Do you like pears?

Megan:  Sure, we love pears.

Mr.:  I thought you might, so I picked these while you were with the Mrs.  They are from our tree out front.

Megan:  Oh my, thank you!  I always wondered if those were edible.

Mr.:  They aren't good for eating, but they're fine for baking.  I thought you could bake a pie with them when you get back.

Megan:  (trying to comprehend a couple foreign words he used in those sentences)  Sure.  Absolutely...  I. will. bake. a. pie.

Mr.:  smiling proudly, having helped a young mother provide a special treat for her young family... 

Her young family who are actually completely oblivious as to what a pie is or how one would be made from scratch and then baked in that big white thing we make grilled cheese sandwiches on top of, if we're lucky.

I left with my bag of freshly picked pears, plopped them on my kitchen table, and then forgot about them.  What did stick with me, though, was how casually he had said I could "bake a pie with them."  As though of course I knew how to bake.  A pie.  With fresh ingredients.

I am a young mother, with a young family, on a tight budget, and I do not know how to bake a pie.  I sure do have a cute apron, though.  One I designed and had made from a vintage table cloth.  One I had made by a friend I met online, from a table cloth I bought online, and which I intended to sell online in order to help support my family.

That is the mother that I am.  I don't bake pies, creating them from scratch, slipping them into the oven to bake, then serving them to my expectant family at the dinner table.

Rather, I Google pie images, digitally insert them into graphics programs and then virtually publish them from my digital desktop for my statistically relevant online audience to consume. 

I suspect I'm missing something here.  For all that my .com resourcefulness gets me, I suspect that a certain amount of real "calm" could be gained from that real pie.

And that is what stuck with me.

In the days to follow, long after the pears had to be thrown out, I was still thinking about that pie.  That damn pie.

After a long day of wrangling editors and answering questions from PR emails, I turned off the computer, loaded the boys in the car, and headed over to my parents' house for a bit of a break.  After satisfactorily distracting the boys, I plopped down on the couch and found a movie to watch.  Waitress starring Keri Russell was on, a movie I had heard great independent-movie things about. 

And I'll be damned if it wasn't about pies.

What followed was roughly two hours of watching pies being made.  The filmmakers might suggest that there was a plot line and a romance and something about marriage and babies and career, but all I saw was pies.  Pies, and a simplicity that my life has been missing lately.

I've written only one blog post since then, because I more or less turned off the computer and started reassessing the clutter in my life, both literally and figuratively.  For those of you that have been reading me a long time, you know I do this every now and then.  I don't make a big fuss about it, I just don't show up for a few weeks.

But this isn't about blogging.  I'm not looking for comments that read "I'm glad you're back!" or "I missed reading you."  The web is stuffed full of enough to keep you occupied, and I think that is precisely my point. 

This reassessment of our priorities and taking inventory of our homes and goals is relevant to every single one of us.  Or at least it should be.

When I wrote Gravel Paves the Road to The White House, my point was not a small towns vs. cities one.  Rather, it was about taking the time to listen, to absorb, to process and integrate the mass amounts of stimuli we are faced with every single day.  It was about taking the time to settle the white noise in our heads. 

You didn't notice it happening, but then you step outside one evening, discover it quiet, and realize that you have cocooned yourself within a wall of static.

That pie.  That damn pie that I never made, sliced through my static.

This is about simplicity.  It is about appreciating what I already have at my fingertips.  What I've struggled to build but then sometimes take for granted.  It is about what I let slip by me every day and never notice.  It is about that woman that I'm going to get around to being.

So...  I've been cleaning.  Decluttering.  Stepping back and asking questions, making decisions, taking action.  Slicing through the static I've let accumulate, static that I've allowed to drown out something important that I can't quite put my finger on but that I can sense is still there.

Maybe it's the stress from all of this screeching panic on the news each day.  The economy.  The bailout.  The election.  The noise the noise the noise.

You don't notice it sneaking up on you.   You don't think you even care.  But then there it is.  Regardless of how much you think it affects you, you find yourself needing to make a decision, put your foot down, stake your claim.

Close your eyes, take a breath, exhale.  Open your eyes.  Step back.  Sit down.  Stand up.  Move forward.  Slow down.

Steady yourself.

I'm going to make that damn pie.

...........................

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Comments

[Rachel]

What can I say?

First, you can totally bake a pie.
Second, I love when you write. I love the thought process, the wonderful way you have of expressing yourself.

I'm trying to de-clutter and enjoy the basics of life a bit more too.

Baking and cooking are something I probably do too often ;-)

Good luck and I can't wait to hear how your pie turns out.

[H.E.Eigler]

I don't bake pies either...I eat them though. You made me hungry!

There is an awful lot of static these days isn't there. My grandmother is an amazing pie baker and I suspect she doesn't pay much attention to things like blogs, or the internet, or much of anything really except those trashy movies they play on Saturday afternoons.

[Octamom]

You're definitely being pie stalked....

Blessings!

[Heather, Queen of Shake Shake]

"I suspect that a certain amount of real "calm" could be gained from that real pie."

I don't know about "calm" being gained from learning to bake things like pies (or brownies! Remember when I gave you brownie points? Ha! pun! I'm full of them), but I do know ALL about weight being gained from being that young mother who, what is it?, places from-scratch yummies in front of my expectant family.

Also, I think some of that static cutting-outer business would include baking a pie, driving said pie to a certain friend's house and sharing it. I'm just saying...

[Connie]

I find great comfort in baking. If there were more baking going on in America....there would be more peace and happiness. At least I like to think so.

Enjoy your pie!

[Kim]

I do hope you'll find some new pears before you bake said pie.

This was my first reading of your blog. I love simple. I love decluttered. I love your blog.

I'll be back.

[Deb@BirdOnAWire]

Reminds me of the post I never wrote. Zen and the art of the pie. Baking, does give one a pause, time to think, meditate even sometimes time to take out frustrations on fruit (the peeling process)and smashing process for apple cakes and such. You'll make that pie, one day. And you'll be proud of your work. It may look less like the ones in your pictures and more like my first one, but it'll taste good and the memories you'll share with your kids will be more than that!

[bikerchick]

You're totally making me crave the fall food here. I can bake an apple-- does that count? I suspect your wise neighbors have a few more things they can teach you, if you are inclined to listen. Glad you are back. And you know what? You are soooo right about the noise!

[catnip]

You don't need to write often, because we know when you do post it will be outstanding, as this is.

Making a pie is way easier than doing the things that you normally do every day. Don't be intimidated, just make the pie!

It's funny, I've been able to make pies for a long time, but I never thought I'd be capable of creating a website, or doing any of the things I do online now.

Thanks for being an inspiration.

[magpie]

Next time you're in or near NYC, you come over and I'll teach you how to make a pie. Because, it's easy as...pie. Really.

[pgoodness]

Mmmmmm....pie....

This was lovely. You can so make a pie. And I can cut through some of the static and breathe with you.

I told hubs I need help around the house - that was step one. Apparently I can't do it all.

I want to make soup. And declutter.

You are an inspiration (and you are missed when you're not around - lots of stuff on the web to keep us busy doesn't mean you aren't missed)

[Angella]

This was perfect, Megan. Just what I needed to hear.

[Christina]

This is so interesting because I am a 'fall' cleaner. Not spring cleaning, fall. I spent one Sunday two weeks ago totally unplugged and just tended to my house. Cleaned, de-cluttered and redecorated. Yesterday I spent another Sunday unplugged from the computer, but just laying on my sofa watching sports on tv.I'm going to keep up that pattern of unplugged Sundays. No news shows. No computer time. Maybe do some chores, maybe some yard work, maybe not! Maybe just BE with mindless tv or reading.

Lovely post. And now, I am hungry. And at work. I don't suppose there are pies in the vending machine....

[Karen Sugarpants]

What a great post Megan...as always.

[Annie]

You will love that pie - it's very satisfying building something from nothing - seeing something come out of that oven - that you made - just make sure you've got some delicious ice cream or custard to eat along with it :)

The noise you talk about? I am so wrapped up in it right now it's not even funny. For me it's because I am powerless to participate in selecting who leads this country next, and so in the noise I seek some kind of reassurance that it's going to be okay - not seeing it clearly yet though.

You are so right to take a step back - take a time out from all of it - and I need to learn that lesson for myself.

[Ryan]

Just stumbled upon this.. Just wanted to say that you bring up some great points.

[Velma]

This is a beautiful post. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

[Wendy]

Lovely connections with pie and simpler life! I will be making pie soon also for my husband's birthday. He likes cherry pie best. I may actually make the crust myself this time, too! Good luck to us both!

[wm]

Looking forward to seeing the photos of THE pie!

[Moriah @ Please Pass the Salt]

I'm planning on Blissdom '08 - so I think I might *meet* you there??

Anyway, YES, you can make a pie. My mother had a very simple crust recipe that was fab. 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/2 cup veggie shortening, 1/2 tsp salt - mix altogether and dampen with 4-5 Tbs cold water. I usually pack it into a ball and then roll out. 450 degrees for 8-10 min, if you just need the shell.

[kateanon]

Love pie. Loved "The Waitress". Loved this post. Thank you.

[technodoll]

You write beautifully... almost like watching a cooking show, just need a bit of imagination to fill in the gaps. Thanks for this, what a delight of the senses and of the mind :-)

[Oh, The Joys]

Oh, how I get this. I. Get. This.

[Donna]

What a beautiful post - pictures and all! (Whatever you do, don't watch "Pushing Daisies" - lots of pie action there, too.)

[Alli {mrs fussypants}]

Red or white with a pear pie?

[Missives From Suburbia]

I can practically smell that pie, because as you know, I've taken some time off recently and had to declutter a bit myself. It's funny how a couple medical crises make it easier to do that. You are clearly the more disciplined of the two of us.

Beautifully written, as usual, Megan.

I'd like that first pie. The sugary crust is right up my alley.

[Anissa@Hope4Peyton]

I got ice cream...wanna share?

[texasholly @ June Cleaver Nirvana]

I loved this.

[Miss Britt]

I actually can bake a piece. Apple, precisely. From scratch. With a lattice top.

I used to make them all the time.

My husband doesn't believe that I know how. He's never seen me do it.

Maybe you and I can swamp recipes soon...

[OHmommy]

This was so awesome and now I am in the mood for some pie. Seriously. Need it.

[9to5to9]

Inspirational on two levels:

One, the quality of the writing reminds me of how much mine has sucked lately, as I've lapsed into "crank it out mode." I'm cranking, but it's come at a cost. I'm not writing anything I actually like. Is that static I hear?

Two, I need to bake that damn pumbkin pie I've been promising the guys.

Pies, particularly two-crust varieties, were hard for me and I'm a good baker. I survived for years by doing cream pies and crumb crusts, but that'll only get you so far. A few years back, I finally bit the bullet and mastered the two-crust. The guys love them now, with their initials carved in as vent holes.

Maybe I'll do an apple after the guys devour the pumbkin.

[Melizzard]

Okay I give up. The universe has been trying to get me to bake a damn chocolate pie for over a month now every since I realized that my kids have never tasted the joy that is homemade pie dough. A staple from my childhood, a void in theirs.

And I've been avoiding it. First it would not provide me with a satisfactory frozen alternative, then it made me watch the very same movie with Keri Russell and all her damn pies, then here you are talking about pies not made.

Enough already I'll make the damn pie, and I'll teach them how to make a the perfect pie crust. Lord help us all I'm going to store to buy some Crisco.

[RazorFamilyFarms.com]

I was sent over here by my dear friend, Meadowlark, who thought you might want my pear pie recipe (tried and true). After reading your troubles -- I'm here to tell you that pear pie is the most extraordinary stuff. It's much better than apple pie!

First rule: don't use pears that you can't eat. This is like cooking with wine that is not good for drinking -- not cool. So don't fret over the tossed pears -- just go get yourself some lovely bosc or bartlett pears.

And then follow my recipe (or someone else's -- I won't know).

http://razorfamilyfarms.com/cooking/pearpie/

Blessings!
Lacy

[Jennifer]

I just bought 75 pounds of apples--think I need to learn how to make a pie too!

[Kate]

Excellent advice. And some that I currently need. Between work and taking care of my family - I have very little free time. Now that I have a blog, I've been noticing that I'm not very productive anymore... It used to be that a beautiful morning on one of my work from home days, I would get outside for some exercise. Now I sit at the computer. I love to write - but I think I need to cut back. I need to reconnect with my real life. But I've only been doing this for few months, so a little beginners' enthusiasm is to be expected!

[Michele K]

Beautiful, relevant post! I adore your site & writing. My MIL has had apples falling off her trees in the orchard so I resorted to attempting my first apple pie, crust & all. It was tasty with ice cream on top, but it definitely needs some work. Watch out, now it's like I'm obsessed with turning out a better one!

[goodncrazy]

I am totally going to admit it. I didn't read the writing. I ONLY SEE THE PICTURES. I stumble that one of the rows and rows of pears...please tell me YOU took it!

(Okay, NOW I'll read the dang thing!)

[MommyTime]

I always feel like I can take a deep breath when I come here to read. I too have been feeling the need to declutter lately, but I'm not always sure how. You've given me some good things to think about.

I also wanted to say that some day, when I actually get to meet you in person, I hope it is in a place where I can teach you to make pie. You would love to make real pie.

[Natalie]

Well, I'll be darned if I didn't write a very similar post today (it even included DECLUTTERING), but much less eloquently. Can I steal yours and replace mine with it?

(Just kidding)

I'm making that damn pie, too.