By Jim Sliney Jr
Yeast. Water. Sugar. Patience. Flour. Salt. More Patience. Dough. Twist. Bake. Eat.
I have always loved fresh baked bread. In the neighborhood I grew up in, in the Bronx, there was an industrial bakery. Walking to and from school or going to visit friends. Bread. Yeast. Warmth. Joy.
It wasn’t until I was in my early twenties that I learned some people can’t eat bread. That made me sad. Imagine something so wonderful that some people just can’t have. I despaired, which I agree, is not the normal response, but I was not a normal young person, I had major depression.
I thought of farmers - they grow more than they can eat. What they can’t eat, they sell, or in the case of all the little backyard gardens in my Italian neighborhood, they gave surplus to their neighbors. It’s how they showed appreciation and bonded, especially when they only spoke Italian and the neighbors didn’t.
Imagine having enough of something that you can give it away. Not everyone can do that. Not everyone that can do that is willing to. Some families (like mine) didn’t have a bit of garden. Thinking about having and not having and the joys of my life that others couldn’t enjoy…that made me sad too. Which is stupid, because I could do something about that.
I love fresh bread. When it’s still warm, adding pads of salted butter. Letting it melt (not all the way, but just enough) then tearing it off in chunks and eating it. A nice cup of coffee near at hand. Maybe a little dipping action. To me it’s one of the things that gives life meaning.
For me, something else that creates meaning and purpose is sharing, freely.
To bake bread is to create - to take things that, on their own, are not especially appealing and creating something wonderful. The baker blends art with science with ritual, uses their hands and intuition. It’s very personal. It can be infused with compassion.
For those who cannot eat bread, or who do not have a garden or fresh vegetables, I bake. I bake and I give away. Not all of it! I love bread remember? But I make bread and I give (some of) it away.
Jim Sliney Jr is a patient advocate, writer, instructor, speaker, listener, program developer, minister, artist, aiming to lead a life of service.