I thought I might go shopping today. It’d be nice to see someone not a neighbor. My neighbors are all terrific, and I enjoy seeing them, too, but… you know, just to get out. As the day went on, I looked at what I still had available in the kitchen, weighed the trouble of figuring out what to buy that would equal something interesting for supper, and became increasingly reluctant to leave the property.
Now, that is strange. I’d love the walk. I’d love the company, however brief. I’d love to see if everything out there, beyond Via della Pertiche Prima, is still in place. Is this a syndrome? Does it have a name? Am I coming down with agoraphobia? Can you come down with a phobia the way you come down with a cold?
Anyway, I surveyed the hermetically sealed jars I have lined up with varying amounts of stuff purchased from Fabrizio at the market on Piazza del Popolo – back when there was a market on Piazza del Popolo – and decided I had enough to make soup without going out for more ingredients. Cannelini beans, rice, barley, a tomato, a small onion, garlic, sage (in the yard), tomato purée, etc. This is possible. Okay, I’m out of bread. I’ll survive.
I looked up cannelini for cooking instructions. “Soak overnight.” Damn. Or. “Cover with at least two inches of water, bring to a boil, and soak for four hours.” That’s the plan!
I got a pan, put the beans in water, set it on the stove, and left it. I walked the circus minimus while listening to a charming show on PRI, went in for a glass of water, and noticed that I’d not turned on the burner for the beans. Silly me. Rectified. Just remember to turn it down once boiling.
Back to the walk. Walked for an hour. Wow, a nap would be in order. Upstairs, put my feet up, happily dozed.
Not too much later, I woke up coughing. Great, I got the virus. I tried to figure out a way of feeling my forehead for a fever without touching my face, failed, and concluded there was none. No fever. Buoyed by having escaped the plague this time, at least, I opened my eyes.
Wow, my vision is cloudy, I wonder how come that is?
The damn beans.
Oh, yes, a lovely white smoke filled the house, interestingly similar to the (former) color of the beans themselves. I turned off the flame, left the pot in place (for which I applaud my good sense), opened all the windows, pulled down all the screens, and listened to another charming show while walking for another hour.
I don’t know I’ll ever get the pan clean. It’s pretty black. But I’ll try.
As for the soup, the beans were the least of the ingredients, it was more about using them up than anything, and I’d venture to say that goal has been accomplished. The beans have been used. Up. Way up.
On my way down the exterior stairs after having opened windows, Marianna was on her balcony hanging laundry.
“A beautiful spring day,” I observed.
“Yes indeed, spring has really arrived. Are you set for groceries?”
“Funny you should ask. I was going to go today, but got distracted, so now I must go tomorrow.”
“Well, if you need anything, just let me know.”
“Thank you, I will. But I look forward to having a reason to go out.”
I felt a little like I was lying.
“Opening all your windows to let the spring inside?”
“You could say.”
I left it at that. I wasn’t sure my Italian would be up to the full story, but even if it were, it was too soon after the fact for confession.
One great thing came of the misadventure – it gave me something to write about. As the days become increasingly redundant, this screen, devoid of black pixels, becomes blanker and more of a threat.
Tomorrow, although there will be no charcoaled legumes, but there will be stories about shopping adventures. Or…? Who knows? All kinds of things can come to pass. Or come to mind.
I’m happy to report that my house is set up with wonderful cross-ventilation. Aside from the pan, no evidence remains of my memory lapse. Except, of course, for my having told the story to friends all over the world. But that’s life in the modern age.
Last, and as far from least as least can get, the number of new cases in Italy has been dropping significantly for several days. Don’t slacken now.
The photo is of a spring day, 2015. I imagine that parts of town are beginning to look a bit like that.