It was a good summer. Even though I was looking for work, we had two wedding celebrations, many beach days, a weekend upstate, and I hosted three dinner parties. On the days I could overcome the anxiety of being unemployed, I could recognize how lucky it is to have the extra time and space not always to be rushing, multitasking, or barreling through life. Giving myself a two-hour window in the afternoon to experiment in the kitchen was a gift.