Kepping It Real

My show is about to open and it has been a busy week. There has been a lot of eating on the run and eating late. Its seems to be a tech week curse. I'm not starving, although after a few wardrobe issues last night I wonder if maybe I should be. Anyway, the show opens tomorrow night and I hope everyone is eating up life. :-)

From George Bernard Shaw: "Animals are my friends... and I don't eat my friends."

Happy Veggie Day (every day is veggie day)

In the Words of Cloris Leachman: "As soon as I realized that I didn't need meat to survive or to be in good health, I began to see how forlorn it all is. If only we had a different mentality about the drama of the cowboy and the range and all the rest of it. It's a very romantic notion, an entrenched part of American culture, but I've seen, for example, pigs waiting to be slaughtered, and their hysteria and panic was something I shall never forget."

Hello Again.

It's another day, eating on the run and trying to keep up at the theater, and trying to get a 33 person cast into costumes (multiple costumes in most cases).

In the Words of Plutarch: "Can you really ask what reason Pythagoras had for abstaining from flesh? For my part I rather wonder both by what accident and in what state of soul or mind the first man did so, touched his mouth to gore and brought his lips to the flesh of a dead creature, he who set forth tables of dead, stale bodies and ventured to call food and nourishment the parts that had a little before bellowed and cried, moved and lived. How could his eyes endure the slaughter when throats were slit and hides flayed and limbs torn from limb? How could his nose endure the stench? How was it that the pollution did not turn away his taste, which made contact with the sores of others and sucked juices and serums from mortal wounds?"

Eating on The Run

It's tech week for my show and therefore means that Ill be spending a great deal mroe time at the theater. I was there until about midnight helping paint and random set stuff (I needed a break from looking at costumes) and will be there every night through opening weekend. It also means a lot more meals there or on the run. When I got there tonight the pizza they ordered arrived shortly after I did. I was offered food, but I'm trying to limit my pizza consumption for the most part this week, plus I was pretty sure there was meat on everything. The whole meat thing came up later when asked about Thanskgiving and if I got any turkey. As the mini discussion evolved on if turkey is meat or fowl on came the almost expected comment, "I bet you're no fun on a date." They always think they are funny and they generally always thing they are being original. (There are, of course, multiple variations of this aged joke.)

In the Words of Will Kellogg: "How can you eat anything with eyes?"

Thanksgiving Lull and Leftovers Jump Start the Christmas Season

It’s the day after Thanksgiving and all through the house not a person is cooking, not even a roast. Leftovers abound from yesterday’s feast. Stuffing and gravy, crackers and cheese. It’s that time of year where much of America is enjoying the leftover lull of the day after Thanksgiving and filling the stores for the biggest shopping day of the year. No cooking is going on in my house today, by anyone. There are plenty of things left to reheat or just enjoy straight from the fridge.

Of course now that Thanksgiving is behind us the Christmas season starts into full swing. (I am so glad I wasn’t anywhere near a store today to deal with the crowds and people. It was enough just to see the clips of people shopping at 5am this morning trying to scope out the best deals.) Christmas decorations will start to be pulled this week and I have started menu planning for our Christmas Eve Gathering as well as Christmas dinner . We always have friends and family over Christmas Eve for an Open House type deal with an appetizer type spread. It’s nice to just sit back and spend time with each other the night before the big day. My grandparents come over, a friend sating back to elementary school and her husband and kids, as well as other assorted family and friends. Bring on the Christmas season. (Just keep me away from the crowded malls with screaming kids and determined bargain hunters.)

Here’s to hoping the season is grand. Cheers!

Check me out here: http://www.VegSpace.com/greenapple

In the words of Alex Poulos: "I will not eat anything that walks, runs, skips, hops or crawls. God knows that I've crawled on occasion, and I'm glad that no one ate me."

A Vegetarian Thanksgiving, Just Like Everyone Else’s…. Well Almost

It’s Thanksgiving Day. A day of food, family, football games, parades, and leftovers. I got most of my food done last night (mushroom dressing [recipe below] and ranch cheese balls). The chopping, the sautéing, the mixing were all done then this morning and I did not have to get out of bed as early. (Yay for sleeping in… at least a little bit.) Then today I just had to bake the stuffing with everything else that was in the oven and make the mushroom/onion gravy once we got to the firehouse kitchen where this year’s family Thanksgiving meal was. I would much rather get things done ahead and stick in the refrigerator the night before.

Thanksgiving in my family, like pretty much everything else, is a noisy, active, busy day. We always have lots of food, lots, of people, and lots of leftovers to take home. You’re probably wondering about the whole vegetarian feasting with a meat eating family thing. First off, even with extended family present I am the only vegetarian. Most people don’t say anything anymore because it just is the way it is and the way it has been for a while. (For many of the in-laws the only way they remember it.) Second, I never go hungry and have just as much opportunity to fill my plate and overeat with the rest of them. While they feasted on their meat dishes and more traditional stuffing (as well as their traditional oyster dressing), I stuffed myself with mushroom dressing and homemade mashed potatoes smothered in mushroom gravy. The cupboard were full of different kinds of dressings, vegetables like homegrown corn (we get it in the summer then freeze it our self) and green beans, salad, rolls, a few casseroles (some I eat, others I avoid), relish trays of cheese and pickles, and lots of dessert choices from pies and cakes to puddings and bars. (I come from a family with sweet teeth, although somehow I am not one of them.) We ate, took the time to catch up with each other, chased the overwhelming number of small children that were running around, played games, and everyone took home leftovers.

Only two people even made any reference to the whole vegetarian thing. The first was my cousin’s fiancé when I asked her if she out bacon in her green beans (it ended up being a small piece of mushroom) and the second my jerky cousin-in-law that causes trouble pretty much where-ever he can. He kept trying to get his very young son to say things like “carnivore,” “I eat meat,” and “vegan” like it was an insult whenever I was around him (I do not take vegan as an insult, but I have given up correcting him that actually am not vegan). His young son never cooperated, he was too busy playing with his tractor, trying to get my glasses, and leading me back and forth to the kitchen just to look around. Somehow he thinks constantly making vegetarian attacks is funny, but I gave up responding to them a long time ago. He’s the one that sounds like a jerk, not me. I am content with my life choice and in the end that is all that matters.

Overall it was a good day. I had cousins there from out of town and out of state and there was not major drama. No one argued or fought and everyone had plenty to eat (and maybe a little more than plenty for some). My mom filled and took Thanksgiving plates to a few of her shut in clients with no or limited family. It was pretty much a typical holiday like the one many shared by many vegetarians and non-vegetarians across the country. Hope everyone had a wonderful one full of laughter, love, and joy.

My Fabulous Mushroom Dressing
One bag breadcrumbs (14-16oz bag approx or other preferred)
About one onion cut (and put through food chopper)
About 4 stalks of celery (chopped than put through chopper)

2 cloves garlic (finely chopped)
Package of mushrooms (I put most of them through chopper, then thinly slice rest)
Oil (to sauté vegetables… I also use a little water to sauté with to help cut amount oil used)
½ c. butter, margarine, or soy butter substitute
2 green onions chopped
2-3 c preferred liquid (I use a vegetable broth or you could use any combo water, broth, etc)
Sautee all vegetables except green onions. Mix bread crumbs, all vegetables (sautéed and not) in large bowl. Add warm liquid and melted butter or margarine. Mix well incorporating all the ingredients well). I took a masher with a wide bottom and mashed and mixed a little at the end. Put in baking dish. Bake at 350 until done.

In the words of James Cromwell: "We don't need to eat anyone who would run, swim, or fly away if he could."

From Mike Connolly: "Coexistence... what the farmer does with the turkey - until Thanksgiving."

Thanksgiving Another Year

It's that time again!!!

Just A Couple More Days Before Thanksgiving

Overall it has been just another day in just another week of my life. I’m keeping a somewhat busy schedule and am glad to be over the bug that seemed to be going around. (I usually bounce back pretty well.) With keep erratic hours at the theater I am glad to have leftovers frozen from past dinners (potato and mushroom casserole, vegetable lasagna, and black beans and rice). I went out to lunch at this local Italian restaurant for dinner with my family today and had this lovely pesto pizza and a nice green salad. It was even sprinkled with pine nuts to add a nice little texture to the mix. I love finding and trying new things at local restaurants that end up just making me smile. I may enjoy a nice salad (and especially a nice vinaigrette on it), but I need more adventure than just salad in my diet. I do enjoy food… preparing it, eating it, and sharing it.

I got the grocery things needed for Thanksgiving and started discussions about the food for Christmas Eve (we always have a Christmas Eve thing with finger food and lots of people). We have definitely entered that busy season of family, food, and holiday cheer. For me, it means meal planning not just for myself and others like me but helping prepare food that will appease both vegetarians and non-vegetarians alike. Oh, the excitement that is upon is.

Hope ya’all are staying healthy, happy, and warm.

As a pre-holiday extra check out this link for more vegetarian information, recipes, and commentary: http://talkingvegetables.tripod.com/

From Robert Hutchinson, in his address to the British Medical Association, 1930: "Vegetarianism is harmless enough though it is apt to fill a man with wind and self-righteousness."

Anther Day in Paradise

It's after midnight and is the start of a busy week. I'm getting ready to go into technical rehearsals with the show and prepping for the Thanskgiving food that I am taking to the large family gathering on Thursday. (So far I am taking my homemade stuffing, gravy, and an appetizer... and probably lima beans because i love love love them.)

In the words of Harvey Diamond: "You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car."

In the words of George Bernard Shaw: "Think of the fierce energy concentrated in an acorn! You bury it in the ground, and it explodes into an oak! Bury a sheep, and nothing happens but decay."

Just a Video

Thanksgiving Thoughts. (I spent much of my day at the theater with set and costume stuff.)

From Henry David Thoreau: "One farmer says to me, "You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make the bones with;" and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying himself with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle."

Vegetarianism is Not a Punishment

I’ve been thinking a lot about the notion that many have that vegetarianism is about giving things up. (I did give up pain, nausea, and prescription medications by going vegetarian.) Many see this as a sacrifice. This is a lifestyle not a punishment. My body is better. My spirit is lighter. I am not suffering. “But don’t you miss it?” they ask, especially as the holidays approach. I don’t. I find harmony in the local farmers’ market and companionship from my animal friends. There is a whole, wide, wonderful world of yummy and satisfying food that does not have to include meat. Soul food. Comfort food. Light. Healthy. Hearty. Filling.

I’ve been going through recipe ideas for Thanksgiving. In my family everyone brings and almost everyone can cook very well. I first learned to cook from watching my mother, my grandmother, and my aunt; often needing a stool to help stir something or watch. Most measurements were by hand or coffee cup and everything was to taste. Now I pour over meal ideas a cross between the traditional German-influenced cooking of my family and the adventure of a meatless cuisine. I contemplate what new things I can expose my family to without too many complaints. They aren’t always as adventurous with food as I am, but I am continuing to work on them.

In the words of Buddha: "To become vegetarian is to step into the stream which leads to nirvana."

Pasta Salad and Thanksgiving Humor for the Vegetarian

So, I'm still not feeling great and what I really want to to just feel better or for someone to baby me a little. That's not going to happen. I made some seasoned crackers (the kind where you use veggie oil and seasoning at crackers than bake for 15-20 minutes) and homemade pasta salad. I don't have a recipe for pasta salad. I have certain things I like in it and often use, but in the end it comes down to whatever I find in the cupboards and refrigerator. Today's combination is sun-dried tomatoes (sliced into smaller pieces), black olives, some sliced mushrooms (left from last night's pasta), almond slivers, some cheese bits (you could use none or use soy cheese crumbled, shredded, chunked, whatever), a blasamic vinegrette that I like, and a touch of prepared pesto (I've gotten in the habit of using just a bit to add a little bit of something else to the mix) all mixed with the pasta. You can really use just about anything you have on hand and that you enjoy together. My mom usually uses colorful peppers (I'm not a big fan of them raw) and diced tomato (I prefer the taste and texture of the sun-dried or semi-dried). Currently, it is sitting in the refrigerator letting everything kind of crisp and marinate together.

For Thanksgiving this year, as with most years, my family is planning a big shin-dig with everyone getting together. We have certain traditions that seem to appear every year from pretty much the same people. Especially after going vegetarian it became important for me to make sure there were foods that I would and could eat without giving up some of my holiday favorites. I always make homemade mushroom stuffing, vegetarian gravy of some type, some type of vegetable that has not been corrupted, and often some appetizer type thing (my stuffed mushrooms are always a big hit with vegetarians and meat-eaters alike). Hope all your plans for the season are fabulous.

Here's a little something to make you smile and maybe think too.

From Albert Einstein, physicist: "Nothing will increase chances of survival for life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet."

"Where's the Meat?"

There are things and days that I do not understand; among these is my brothers’ hysterics over meat. I don’t eat it, I don’t like the smell of it, and I have no desire to cook it. This is not new. I was fixing pasta for dinner. The water was getting close to a boil and I was in the process of slicing mushrooms. ‘Where’s the meat?” my brother demanded as he barged into the kitchen. “You need to fix chicken to go with that.” It was not a request, it was a demand. I was not about to be bullied into anything, especially cutting up and cooking chicken (or hamburger as the other one wanted). He freaked out. By freak out I mean major freaking. The fights are still there and sometimes I fear they always will be. As he yelled and screamed, ranted and raved he finally got the chicken out and fixed it himself. Our large kitchen suddenly felt way too small as I tried to keep breadsticks from burning, water from boiling over, and sauce from scorching. The entire time he raved about how horrible it was that I am a vegetarian and how I had done it just to be different. When I first quit eating meat (even back to when I was contemplating it and trying to make a decision) it was such a frightening endeavor to undertake, especially alone and without my family’s support. The stereotype is often of the militant vegetarian picking fights and arguments with meat-eating family, friends, and strangers. I try to avoid the fights and arguments. Yet, somehow I take attacks especially from my siblings while being accused of “attacking” them. (All going back to an afternoon a couple years back when I asked my one brother is he really needed a steak for an after-school snack.) I don’t; attack others for their lifestyle and I don’t want to be attacked for mine. My lifestyle is not hurting anyone, not even myself.

It doesn’t really matter why I became a vegetarian. It’s my life and my body. I wanted to be better and for me this worked. I shouldn’t have to explain myself. I’m open to reasonable discussions and honest curiosity, but not hysterical rants about the evils of vegetables and my supposed responsibility to serve them meat. Sometimes it would be nice to have a real ally; someone who actually understood. I never expected it to be completely easy, but I had hoped that after this long the attacks from family would have ceased. I may not like it, but I have never once attacked them or yelled at them for their continuing to hunt. (It helps that their aim is so bad they can barely hit the broad side of a barn.) I wonder sometimes how important it would be to marry a vegetarian like me, then things like this happen again and I almost don’t want to risk the idea of a long-term relationship with a meat-eater.

Let me leave with a quote that just seems fitting.

From Scott Adams (The writer of Dilbert): “You think I’m one of those wise-ass California vegetarians who is going to tell that eating a few strips of bacon is bad for your health. I’m not. I say it’s a free country and you should be able to kill yourself at any rate you choose, as long as your cold dead body is not blocking my driveway.”

No Chicken Soup, Please

Here it is another day and half the people I know are sick, getting sick, or slowly getting over being sick. Not surprising, I came home from rehearsal last night fighting the onset of a sore throat. I woke with the same sore throat and struggled past it when making phone calls earlier. The germy, damp, chilly season of fall is defiantly upon us. No chicken soup for me, please. I am determined to get over this the same way a lot of other people do. Warm liquids (such as herbal tea and vegetable broths), herbs and vitamin c, steamy bath/showers, and rest. I don’t like being sick anymore than anyone else, but it does make a few kinks in my baking plans. For now I am off to steep a little tea, perhaps ginger something or a soothing chamomile. Stay warm and well.

http://www.familyresource.com/blog/category/health/cold-and-flu-remedies/

Eating Out

Going out to eat can be an interesting experience for anyone, but it seems to be more interesting at times for the vegetarian and vegan among us. When I first quit eating meat it was difficult to go out. I didn’t really know what I could get where and what places put things in what that would and could make me sick. I also was in the awkward stage of being a new vegetarian. I didn’t want to make a scene (I still don’t) and I wasn’t always sure about what even to ask. Over time it got easier (or maybe I adjusted… as with the rest of my family). Today was one of those family eating experiences out in a public restaurant (they can be so embarrassing sometimes I have learned to just ignore it and expect it). My great-aunt’s birthday is today and a number of us met in shared celebration. Sometimes it’s just nice to be able to sit down at a meal together (and sometimes it is really nice not to have to prepare that meal yourself). We went to this little local place (a favorite of my aunt) that has this great little bakery in part of it. We have reached the point in my family that even after the waitress or waiter as taken my order various family members (especially my mother) often make sure that the person knows that I am in fact a vegetarian and I do not eat meat. This is often a response to a question such as, “Would you like ham on that?” No, thank-you. Of course somewhere in there is the added chiming of a voice or two (not my own included) going, ‘She doesn’t eat meat,” or, “She’s a vegetarian.” As annoying as it may seem (especially after I have often asked the wait stuff person questions regarding a pasta sauce or potential broth usage or whether or not meat is included on some salad) it actually has become rather bearable and endearing in their own way.

When I first made the decision it was very difficult on my various members of my family. Surprising me the most at the time was the fact that my grandparents were the most supportive as it would seem to challenge their years of life the most. (“Whatever it takes as long as you are better.”) There were often times at restaurants when my mother seemed to have to apologize to wait staff that I was one of “them.” It always seemed in that tone… you know the one… the one apologizing for something that their kid or parent or someone has done. Then one afternoon I got a burger that was supposed to be veggie and wasn’t…. I never chew, just biting into the now strange substance was enough to make be almost vomit on the table. After nearly two years of hearing my mother utter phrases like, “I’m sure now your body has healed enough that you could start adding meat back…” she was suddenly ready to go up to bat for her vegetarian daughter. I was floored as she called over the waitress that fateful afternoon and calmly explained and asked to see the manager regarding the kitchen mistake. It seemed in that moment realization finally had come to her that this was not a passing phase and I wasn’t just “going to get over it.”

In a rather short amount of time my mother went from apologizing to wait staff to explaining and to making sure that they knew so that there was no misunderstanding. (Who needs a veg shirt when your mom is ready to tell the world?) She even told the sample lady at the grocery how long I had been a vegetarian when shopping for produce one day. Eating out is no longer her making excuses for the “freaky eater” at the table, but informing the staff that its not just I don’t what that ham on my salad or sandwich, but that I REALLY don’t want anything to do with it. (She even has called the pizza place to ask them twenty questions about what is in what and complain that an order was messed up and that her daughter is vegetarian and can not eat whatever the mess up usually is.)

A typical family trip to meet somewhere to eat often includes Grandma calling and making sure that where-ever we go has something that I can eat. (She does seem to have a thing for buffets.) Followed by at least two people asking me while we are looking at the menus if there is something I can eat and making sure that I will not go hungry. (This is often where one of my “sensitive” brothers asks me if I want some labeled “meat-lovers” or how raw I like my steak.) We order drinks. (And somewhere there is a lemon in water discussion.) Then we order and at least someone (no including myself) makes sure that whoever is taking our order is aware that there is a vegetarian in their midst. In the end it is kind of sweet and well-meaning. I know not every person who ever takes our order cares why I ordered what I did, but in many ways it means that my nutty family has finally found a sense of normalcy and acceptance in the fact that I do not eat meat and have no intentions of ever doing so again.

A Dream

Last night I had the strangest dream. I was somewhere in my dream and someone was trying to pay me with meat. (Yuckk!) I told them that I did not eat meat and was a vegetarian. They kept trying to find something else, but everything they kept coming up with was more meat. The ladies seemed rather understanding, but meat was mostly everywhere. They were understanding, but it was sizzling and frozen, and all over the place.

Sometimes, I feel like that... that I live in a world surrounded by meat and so often struggle to avoid it. Commercials boats images of steaks and chicken. Right now there the airwaves and print media seem bombarded with images of roasted turkey. Sometimes, I really miss that sense of normalcy. Instead I make special requests whenever I am out to dinner with family or friends. I have few vegetarian friends around me, but most are not people I see or associate with everyday. Generally, my friends respect and accept the differences in my eating habits, but often I just wish that i didn't not feel like an island of vegetables floating in a sea of raw meat. Five years and some things seem much easier, but other things are definitely not.

Trying Something New with Old Fav's

I had rehearsal tonight and went early to work on some costume things (that I have managed to get myself put in charge of). I knew I went be there awhile and when I made lunch I went ahead and packed myself a dinner. Now anyone who knows me, probably knows that I love food and enjoy eating. I love flavor and trying new things. I made a mushroom rice (with little pieces of sliced mushroom stems in it) then lighted sauteed some a garlic clove. I added a little balsamic vinaigrette I had in the refrigerator to the garlic and oil and let it all mix and warm. I cleaned and removed the stems from a couple small portabella mushrooms (about 2 inches in diameter) and placed in a small baking dish with the bottoms up. Then poured over the garlic/balsamic mixture. I roasted the mushrooms for about 20 minutes at 450 degrees. Then sliced a few carrot sticks and another small glove of garlic (its great for the immune system) and sauteed them. It was yummy even reheated at the theater. I packed some olives, a bottle of water, and some mini cookies to go with it. Definitely made the evening go easier. Oven roasting the mushrooms like that may also have become a new favorite (I use a lot of mushrooms at times). Sometimes its entertaining to me how non-veggies will look at what I am eating (or smell in cooking or reheating in the microwave) and look and comment and sometimes even drool a little. It's great to try something new and LOVE it. It makes me kind of want to experiment with preparing vegetables in all sorts of ways that I may not yet have tried. In the meantime I think I may curl up with a nice steaming bowl of homemade French onion soup (leftovers form the other night). Yummy yummy in my tummy.

An introduction of sorts

Welcome to my vegetarian world. Think of this almost as a mission statement of types. There are a lot of blogs and bloggers on the web. It’s a huge world out there with all sorts of different interests, purposes, and ideals. Vegetarianism is growing, but sometimes it still feels like a rather lonely world. I believe that living a life without meat should be a celebration and not some thinking of restrictions and explainations. This is my life… and one of the best ways I can think of celebrating it is to share.
Five years ago I found myself at the threshold of vegetarianism. At first the idea seemed a bit scary; I am after all from a long line of Ohio hunters and farmers. Life here often seems centered around football games, deer season, and shared meals for holidays, picnics, or just because. Thanksgiving is a marked a huge turkey and sighting guns in and the prep for deer season. Christmas Day is marked with steak and shrimp. Burgers, hotdogs, and chicken BBQ seem the obvious choice in summer-fare. Then at nineteen, I got sick. What I ate often caused pain, but the pain came from not eating as well. I tried the route the doctors laid before me, but was unsettled with the idea of spending a life on medication. I tried herbs and initial diet changes, but I often felt as though I had hit the glass ceiling. I could see where I wanted to go, I could almost touch, but somehow it stayed out of reach. I wanted to be better and I wanted my life back. I had researched from the beginning, constantly reading and talking to others. It kept coming up… vegetarian. At first it seemed extreme and far-fetched. While, I myself had never hunted, I had to taught to handle one at a young age and it was somewhat expected that one day I would join my cousins, uncles, brothers, Grandpa, and Father in the woods one day. Hunting and farming was a tradition after all. We had been brought up with a respect for the animals whose lives were taken whether from a farm, water, or woods. Nothing was taken that was not going to be used. Game was often shared with family or friends who either did not hunt or did not get anything. It was all I had ever known. But I wasn’t getting any better. And I had to try something. So I made the original goal of one month. Thirty days to let my body adjust (think detox almost) and see if it made any real difference. I woke up one morning and knew that was the day. Without looking back I armed myself with determination and willpower that would get me through the first days. I had figured after the thirty days I would then decide if it would make any different and if it was something I would stick to. By the end of two weeks I knew there was no going back. Five years later, here I am. I got my health back without drugs and potentially dangerous side-effects and I have lasted far longer than most predictions.
For me, I don’t think much about the things I gave up. I may have gave up the sense of my family’s normalcy, but I also gave up the pain. I also gained a sense of awareness about what I put into my body and about the world as a whole. Slowly my family as adapted to the reality that vegetarianism for me is not merely a phase that I will “grow out of.” They accept the veg-friendly food at picnics, cook outs, and even Holiday dinner tables. Most of them have stopped picking about when I will just “go back to normal” and eat meat. The adjustment from omnivore to vegetarian has not be nearly as difficult for me as it has been on various members of my family. Sometimes, I still feel as though it would have been a easier if it had been a road I had not taken alone, but I am almost everyday glad that it is a road I have taken.