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| You can catch Americans catnapping all over the country. Sadly,
the real cure is more and better sleep.
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But in trying to pick up the items in the supermarket, the aisles seemed packed with people who seemed loggy and unaware. Carts were blocking aisles, people were calling their families to remind them what ingredients they needed, and one woman was holding two large cans of pumpkin as if she were trying to read the label in a foreign language.
It was like one of those zombie films. Or maybe I was just looking at a lot of sleep-deprived folks trying to get up the energy to deal with another holiday.
The New York Times this week resurrected a report on sleep from 2011 to emphasize the fact that Americans are a nation of sleep-deprived citizens who need more rest.
Those with ET are often admonished to get a good night's sleep in order to fight off fatigue. In addition, the NYT article suggests that with lack of sleep comes brain fog and the inability to do routine tasks quickly and correctly. Of even more concern is the fact that those of us who are sleep deprived don't really even see our impairments.
As we move into another hectic holiday season, I urge all my fellow Orphans to think about simplifying their celebrations, sharing the workload, and emphasizing the social aspects of the season.
OK, here's my menu. I think I have all the flavors people expect at Thanksgiving, but without the insanity.
Roast turkey: I have five people coming and bought a 12-pound turkey. I like a lot of leftovers for sandwiches and soup. Plus I can also send guests home with it. Save the drippings for turkey pot pie or turkey a la king on Friday.
Marinated green beans: Wash and trim a pound or two of fresh string beans. Cook them just slightly in the microwave so they're bright green and still crispy. Marinate them in the fridge for a day or two in a balsamic vinegar dressing you bought off the shelf, adding a quarter cup of chopped walnuts and some crumbled feta cheese. If I have any dried tarragon from the garden, I add a few sprigs of that. Serve cold. (Don't like green beans? Substitute asparagus.)
Corn bread: Make a batch of corn bread using the recipe on the cornmeal box. Add to the recipe a half cup of corn (frozen or canned) and a half cup of chopped fresh red pepper. You can also add a couple of teaspoons of dried sage. I put in a few chopped sage leaves if I have any in the garden. Serve warm.
Baked spicy yams: Mix together half cup of olive oil and a sprinkling of your favorite spice in a bowl. (This year it's going to be red curry powder, but you can use chili powder, too). Peel, wash, and slice yams about a half-inch thick and arrange them on a baking dish in one layer (it's OK if there is some overlap). Bake at 350 until the yam slices are fork tender, about 30-40 minutes. Stir the slices every 15 minutes or so to ensure even baking. Serve right away. (Don't like yams? Substitute baked squash.)
Pumpkin something: I buy a pumpkin cheese cake in the bakery section of the supermarket and freeze it. If I feel up to it, I'll make dessert pumpkin muffins in those fussy little pumpkin molds I bought years ago. But if not, I have a back-up dessert.
If anybody wants to bring something else like deviled eggs or a relish tray, that'll be gravy. So to speak.
Get good sleep, count your blessings, and be well!
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ET is a serious disease that requires specialist care. Discuss anything you read here with your doctor. No comments promoting "alternative" or "natural" cures (yes, this includes Rick Simpson's Oil) will be published.