Comfort Food

My grandmother's funeral was this week. It was much, much more difficult than I expected. I thought I was prepared. After all, she was 96. That's a mighty long life.

Still, I'm feeling deep sadness almost a week following her death.

It was interesting to observe the things that brought comfort during this initial grieving time. As family gathered to celebrate a life well-lived food was brought in. On a holiday weekend. With a tropical storm blowing in. 

But I was in south Alabama in the heart of a community who deals with hard things by sharing food. There were tomatoes and peaches, ham and bbq, salads and deviled eggs, chicken and dumplings, green beans and new potatoes, cookies and banana pudding, coffee and sweet tea. 

And fried chicken, the quintessential comfort food of the south. Lots and lots of fried chicken.

And I can't leave out the pound cake. I think we received 5, and my mom had already made one in anticipation of the holiday weekend.

What I realized after my 3rd meal of fried chicken topped off with pound cake is that while the food indeed was a comfort, I felt the most comfort from the stories being shared around the meal. We laughed until we cried telling tales that have been embellished over the years and remembering the good, long life my grandmother had. 

At our last "funeral meal" my brother said he hoped the next death would not be any time soon. His stomach couldn't take it. 

While I appreciate the sentiment, I desperately miss gathering around the table, sharing stories, laughing, enjoying the people around me, letting the rest of the world fall away and living in the moment. That's my true comfort food.

With the 10 year anniversary of September 11th coming up this weekend I hope many will find the comfort food that soothes their souls as they continue to grieve.