My word for 2020 is ENOUGH.

It’s such a great word and realization. And it’s so versatile!

• I can use it while standing tall, with clenched fists and lots of exclamation points. “Enough of THAT!!!”
• I can use it when I remember to put Fear in the back seat. So I can get on with Life. “Enough, already.”
• I can use it when no matter how I try, things just don’t turn out as I planned or wanted. So I can allow a glimmer of grace to creep-in and flip my compassion switch ON. “:: deep sigh:: Enough.”
• I can also use it when God/The Universe/and Everything Good presents one of those gobsmacking moments of awe and love. “THIS is enough.”

The gentleman in this image is Ludwig Chester Jackson, my maternal grandfather. Also in this image are my grandmother Amy, Mom, Mari, and me. I’m guessing this was around 1962. It was during a visit with Pop and Nana, at their home in England. And it was my only time with Pop. He was born in 1899 and died in 1967.

Pop was a pork butcher. His specialties were pork pies and bangers. Earlier this month, I came across his recipes for both. So, I was on a mission to try making, at least one of them. Since I prefer bangers to pork pies, I had my plan.
A local butcher ground fresh pork for me. Another (almost) local butcher sold me the natural casing. I carefully toasted the bread crumbs, rather than buying them. Then I gathered the spices, which are top secret, by the way. So, don’t even ask. 😜

Next came the mixing and stuffing. I don’t have images of these steps. Suffice it to say, it wasn’t pretty. And my gloved hands were greasy.

Here’s how the first seven bangers turned out. The night I created them, I had the ‘traditional’ banger (I only had one) and mash (mashed potatoes) with onion gravy, and HP sauce, (which is also a tradition).

I gotta admit, it wasn’t The Best Banger I’ve ever eaten, but it was the best one I’d ever made. And, especially in this season of disconnection, it connected me to Pop, well, that was enough.

How have you witnessed or experienced enough, lately?