Settling In With Fondue Pots

Settling In With Fondue Pots

I’ve been so busy — or rather, I’ve kept myself so busy I don’t miss my old life. To be honest, or rather more specific, I do not miss the stress of being a caregiver. What I miss is the ‘old days’ when my husband and I took our health for granted and just carried on as we saw fit.

I am however, settling in to these new circumstances and it feels okay. More than okay. I have the opportunity to create a whole new chapter. 

Notice I did not say whole new life. That’s a myth. No one ever gets a whole new life. Recall the old saying — you take yourself with you wherever you go. But new chapters? That is entirely possible. 

I have no one to take care of except me-self and a few adored house plants. 

The first week in my new quarters I spent running up and down the hallway looking for the rest of the closet space. Which brings me to my fondue pots. Three fondue pots that were packed away in a box for as best as I can recall, two decades are now taking up precious closet space where they are still in said box. Which has led me to ask myself, out of all the ‘stuff’ I gave up, why did my unused-for-two-decades fondue pots make the cut? 

Those fondue pots represent another time for me. The few nights that they were in full use were just so much fun. Friends, laughter, tea laced with Kirsch (much better than beer or wine with fondue) and of course the final chocolate finale — laced with rum of course. 

The likelihood of me hosting a fondue night again, (Covid aside) is highly unlikely. My future will of course have friends, dinners, laughs — but a fondue night? Ah, but even now, as I say that, I have to ask, why not? Even just by myself. I can picture it. Good bread, good cheese, good chocolate. Seriously, why not?

Yup, I’m leaving the fondue pots where they are — with a due date on them. If they are not used within the next six months, their shelf space will be cleared to make room for photo albums. 

So, yes, I am settling in. Two feet into the future, one eye on the past.

Stay safe everyone.

Anne Milne is an every Sunday blogger.  Facebook or Twitter.