About 2 weeks ago I had foot surgery for a bunion I’ve had since I can remember. (That’s where your bones go/grow out of place.)  My left foot has been a source of contention with me for a while now, first shoes just wouldn’t fit right, then it started getting in the way of how I lived my life.  There were times in tap class that I would accidentally hit it with the heel of my right shoe.  I don’t know if any of you have ever worn tap shoes, and caught one foot with the other, but it FREAKIN HURTS.  Something about a piece of metal, on a wooden soled shoe smacking flesh and bone.

There’s also the small, semi-important fact that I stand on my feet for a living, running a restaurant, cooking, etc.  You know it really starts to get bad though, when you can only wear 2 or 3 pairs of shoes, because your foot has outgrown all the others in your closet that fit just a year earlier.  What really clinched it for me to finally get surgery to correct it was when I would wake up in the morning, not even move my legs, and get shooting pains in my foot and ball of my big toe.

Now, you’re probably wondering “how does this have anything to do with food?”  As I have basically been sitting on my couch for the last 14 days, it’s amazing what you’ll start to think about.  All the things you could be doing with 2 working feet, all the things you can’t currently do, one of which is cook.  I think about how I can’t go to the grocery store/farmer’s market to buy fresh ingredients to make myself dinner.  About how I’m stuck ordering Chinese and eating it for 5 days, or microwaving frozen dinners.  This morning I splurged, cooked breakfast sausage and scrambled eggs with salsa and cheese, but those items are easily prepared when you’re standing on a rolling, knee scooter to support you.  Crutches are not kitchen friendly, FYI.  Last week I made a pan of Fresh Peach Cobbler, because Colorado Peaches happen to be in season, and I bought a bunch the day before I became captive.  I figured it could be easily prepared with minimal effort.  I could sit to peel and cut the fruit, as well as make the biscuit topping.

It seems you can really figure out what you love when you can’t do it anymore.  The day after my surgery I started thinking of a new cookie recipe-Oatmeal Date (because I don’t really like raisins; Grapes are best fermented) all the while taking pain pills and sleeping most of the time.  After that, it REALLY seems you know what you love, when you’re half out of your mind and captive.

The good news is my foot couldn’t look better to the Doc who fixed it, I get my stitches out on Friday and a cast applied, then just 4 more weeks until walking commences.  The other good news is that by the time that happens, it should be a bit cooler here, and then I can turn on my oven without fear of passing out in my apartment.  That and I can go out and buy a new pair of shoes that I won’t have to worry about growing out of in a year.  Not only that, but I bet a wider style of shoe will fit both of my feet now.

I’m not saying everyone should spend a few weeks captive on their couch, I’m saying figure out what you truly love to do and then go do it.  Stay hungry friends.