A Squish A Day

(by Eleanor May Blackburn)

Author's reading

You are comfort, safety and home

I wriggled and giggled when my hair you used to comb

The lugs and comb caused tears to fall

But I was overwhelmed by the joy of being curled up in a ball

On your knee, for you see

I squirm in delight at being close to you

There are no limits to what you’d do

For someone else

And that’s all the more evident in this crisis

Making healthy food that’s rich in tasty herbs and spices

To share, hand and give around

Food is a wondrous remedy for lockdown

Soup and crusty bread that tastes like being happy

Mopping the first with the latter messily and badly

Warm are your arms, warm is the soup

I finish and then you stoop to swoop me up

And nowadays you may not have to stoop to reach me

But your embrace still makes me feel fuzzy and carefree

And like the world is mine for the taking

None can compete with the amount of squishes we are making

Then we’re baking and shaking with laughter

Right now it’s a long natter and socially distanced drinks after

Back then it was please just one more chapter

You always put everything else after your priority of looking after us

We challenge each other with our different opinions when we discuss

And you say I’m always right

Or have to have the last word

But can you blame me when you had the ten-page long foreword

And I’m pretty sure I heard a whisper after my so-called last word

I don’t care that things get stirred up

Because I know we’ll always kiss and make up

You’re my trusty back-up

My helper for a drunken clean-up

When I fall down you pick me up

And yeah sure I’m a grownup now

But you’ll always be my mummy, that I vow

I am so relieved I can count on you to tell me when I’m being a cow

So stand up, Mum, take a bow

And how would I have gotten through this crisis without you

I loved going to the shops to get Nannan’s food together

It was just one of our lockdown adventures

With the scrambled list and busy shop we felt the pressure

I was worried for a moment there about your blood pressure

But we laughed our way through it as we always do, whenever, wherever

And I know you think you aren’t clever

However

To me you are not just intelligent but so so so much more

So I’ll continue to help in your moments of madness like shaving you a lockdown undercut

Or anything else you ask for

You have my anxiety and worrying to answer for

But I love that it gives me empathy and I care for what I stand for

I can think of few people I adore quite so much

And though sometimes it may feel like I’m slipping through your clutch

Away from your touch

I promise I’ll always come running back

I’ll be there on the doorstep at the crack of dawn

And crawl into bed with you like I did way way back

This lockdown has made me appreciate you even more so

Who knew any more love could grow

I’m always just a phone call away you know

For everything, thank you

I’ll be a wonderful mother if I turn out half as good as you

---

Eleanor May Blackburn is an actor who lives in Sheffield, England. She is performing her show about a life-changing brain injury in March, 2022. She can be found on Instagram.

Butternut Squash Soup

2 - 3 T. olive or sunflower oil

1 large onion, chopped

1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed

1 t. cumin

1 qt. vegetable stock

salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat, and fry the onion for a few minutes until softened.

Add butternut squash, and fry for 5 minutes.

Add cumin, stock, salt and pepper.

Simmer over medium-low heat for 25 minutes.

Carefully puree hot soup in a blender, and check for seasonings.