6.7.25
I knew when I went to bed last night that I wouldn’t get much sleep. I was right. I woke up at 4 a.m., wide awake, my internal alarm making sure I had plenty of time to get my dish ready for the TVTAC picnic and cooking contest. Somehow, I even managed to get the lawn watered before leaving — small win, but I’ll take it.
Ever since they announced the event months ago, I’ve been messing around with my pork roast stuffed with spinach, mushrooms, cream cheese, and parmesan. I’ve tried different marinades, changed up spices, added garnishes for extra zest. But in the end, I went back to the original recipe. The one that always works. And I’m glad I did.
Cooking in big batches is no joke — it’s way harder than just making dinner. While I was prepping, I was texting with a friend who also entered the contest. I told her how nervous I was. She asked if I knew the short version of the serenity prayer. I said, “Duh, I’ve been saying it all morning.” She texted back: “No — Fuck it.”
And honestly, that was exactly what I needed to hear. I was doing my best. That’s all I can do.
The day was so good. Laughter. Solid people. Talked about how to make it better next year. Service. Tons of great food. And most important of all — sober summer fun. We didn’t win the contest, and that’s okay. It was still totally worth it.
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