Just Cured - Experience Fine Foods

What a difference a week makes.† A week ago I was winging my way back from the sun, surf and sand of one of America’s 21st century playgrounds.† This week I am comfortably ensconsed in the playground of the rich and famous of a century ago.

Each winter for the past ten years, my wife and I have retreated to the Adirondack Mountains for a week of relaxation.† We were afraid that we would not be able to get away this month, but a few days opened up for both us and a hotel we love.† Our one room cabin sits a few feet from the shore of a pristine frozen lake with a view of the mountains beyond.† Once past the parking lot and the covered walkway, we could as easily be in the 1930s as 2008 — and but for the indoor plumbing, a phone and electric lights, we could be in a much earlier time.† Between that walkway and the lake shore is a land where time could have stood still.

The contrasts between this place and where I was a week ago are startling.

titanic divx download Last week, I was in the land of high rise condos and hotels.† I saw more cranes at construction sites than I could count.† This week, the view from my picture window is of one story log cabins, forest and snow capped mountains.

Last week, I walked barefoot at sunrise on a trendy beach.† This week, I have hiked and snowshoed through forests covered in deep snow.† It snowed two feet here in the days prior to our arrival and perhaps eight inches since our arrival.† It is snowing now and the lake, forest and mountains are beautiful beyond compare.

Last week, I drove from hotel to office with the top down.† This week, I walked to breakfast in -21F cold.

Last week, I was ordering dinner at trendy restaurants†after midnight†(just after leaving work) and walked back to my hotel as the local nightlife was just getting underway.† This week, I have fallen asleep by 9:00 p.m. and awakened at 4:00 a.m. to start a fresh fire and read for a few hours before breakfast.

Last week, I sent and received literally hundreds of emails and burned through a month’s worth of mobile minutes.† This week, if I place my phone in just the right spot in my cabin, I receive a marginal signal about half the day.† I have appropriated a computer in the hotel office to type this post.

Last week, I was under incredible stress to complete my project.† This week, my most difficult decision has been which of the books I brought to read next.† I have read three books by authors who are new to me.† I have enjoyed them all quite well.† I started with My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult on the recommendation of a friend who listened to it on a cross country drive this summer.† Next was The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff as recommended by two staff members of my favorite independent bookseller.† And most recently was The Spare Wife by Alex Witchel as I have always enjoyed her work for The New York Times.

Last week, I was immersed in the gateway to our future.† This week, I am firmly planted in our past.

Let it snow!