“No sooner had the warm liquid mixed with the crumbs touched my palate than a shudder ran through me and I stopped, intent upon the extraordinary thing that was happening to me. An exquisite pleasure had invaded my senses, something isolated, detached, with no suggestion of its origin.” — Marcel Proust
Have you seen the glorious madeleines on the cover of our holiday issue? So plump and soft, frozen in a moment of powder-sugar dusting, looking like you could just grab them right off the page. It’s part of our story by the wonderful Hannah Selinger on Hamptons bakeries, but also it’s hard not see that pic and think about Monsieur Proust and the beautiful ennui mustered from the bite of a madeleine dipped in hot tea.
It’s a funny combination, all the feelings the holidays gurgle up in so many of us, Emily and me included. A bittersweet, big-grin mix of abundant joy and hope in the face of all those twinkly lights, good-time get-togethers, festooned streetscapes and big-hearted urges to give and gather… but mixed with that, the quiet hum of sorrow for those not with us and those around us who aren’t as toasty warm, fed, and loved.
But you know what they say: to miss someone is to love someone, and what’s life without love, people? It’s kind of what the holidays are all about. On today’s Southforker podcast, Em and I talk about all kinds of things, from what’s in this issue to our mutual, mixed up feelings on the end of the year. Grab a madeleine, a cup of tea and come hang out with us for a few minutes — we’ll be so very happy to have you along. Happy Holidays, South Forkers. Wishing you warmth, happiness, full bellies and lots and lots of love.
