Chasoh Juhn (Korea)

"Solitude is not happiness. Solitude kills. Life together is happiness; it is joy." Bodaado woman, Niger

This gem was printed adjacent to the recipe I prepared from Extending the Table for dinner, Chasoh Juhn, vegetable croquettes, from Korea. Now these are strong words for an introvert like me. Solitude is a restorative. Solitude is a necessative. Solitude is sinking into a trashy novel with a hot cup of roibos tea, Vivaldi in the background, without refereeing spats, redirecting mischief, or wiping bottoms.

Yet I have a life together, with two boys that giggle and whine and stomp their feet as they smash towers to the ground. I also have a partner who shares in the noise, graciously allowing me my moments curled in my favorite chair with a fuzzy blanket. And lately planted in front of my laptop typing away on my lastest project.

This shared life is my greatest joy, however noisy it might be. So I find my solitude creatively these days. Cooking is one of those outlets. With my kitchen open to the main living area of the house, I can lose myself in a recipe, potatoes, carrots and cauliflower grated and fried golden into a delicate croquette. I surface, of course, to redirect the rowdiness and kiss away the bumps. And I expand my culinary joy with little hands that pour in the sugar and salt and stir the batter with two hands on the spoon.

And we share meals, like Chasoh Juhn. We share the day between the bites. What's the story about this week at preschool? (Firemen!) Why did the littlest get a time out at daycare? (Launching through the window of the playhouse!) What veggies are in this croquette? (Two out of three ain't bad!)

There will be moments for my introvert nature can grasp a moment or two of solitude throughout the day, but for now I am going to embrace the noisy joy.