grilled cheese, please

Yesterday, part of my birthday62 gift to myself arrived.
I actually ordered the six meals from Blue Apron, to cover this week and next, a couple of weeks ago, when I realized that things were most likely not yet going to be user-friendly for big celebrations.
If I couldn't do it up with others, I was damned sure going to make sure I did it up for myself.

Of course, I'd rather not be the one doing all the prep work.
The Blue Apron meals tend to be a bit more in-depth with that, I've found, than Sunbasket was.
The latter would have sent the vegetables already sliced, perhaps, and maybe the cheese as well.
I found myself liking the task this time, though, inhaling the sweet aroma of the pear, enjoying the feel of the Gouda and Fontina, calming down as I tore the butter lettuce.

By the time the red and orange pepper slices were basking in heated olive oil, my attention was fully on the task at hand.
As I assembled the sandwiches, placing the cheese slices atop the fig spread on the sourdough pullman bread, I tried to recall when last I had this treat.
Only, it was not the sandwich from my childhood.
Not with those grilled peppers added before the sandwich was completed and heated!

It had taken almost 90 minutes, rather than the 35 listed, but it was done at last - right on time for my "Quantum Leap"!
Out this went to my ex, my first niece, the bfe, and the bfrb!
"Part of my birthday treat to me: three Blue Apron meals.
[I just made] the grilled cheese on sourdough with pear salad. Slightly scorched, but smells divine! Tastes that way, too."

Jeff, the ex:
"It came early!"
The 1st niece:
"Sounds yummy. It came early..."
Me, to them:
"Well, I have three more meals coming next week. Might as well enjoy some change of pace at home, since people be crazy in the real world."
Jeff, the ex:
"I have a feeling that more people, including us, will have to learn the joys of meatless dinners or cheaper cuts.
I say bring it on."
Me:
"Oh, the other two meals [this week] have meat.
Chicken for one, salmon for the other."
Jeff, the ex:
"I recently took a closer look at that book you sent me about what the f*ck to cook.
It's more of a riot than I expected!
Thank you again."
Me:
"Hell to the yeah!
So glad you are enjoying it!"

The physicist:
"Grilled cheese is a special comfort food I find... "
Me:
"Definitely. I especially like the gouda."
The physicist:
"Contessa would agree with that gouda statement!"
Me:
"No doubt in my mind. That girl had good taste."
The physicist:
"How are you holding up in general?"
Me:
"Well, i am avoiding the Memorial Day commercials.
They just remind me this is not the birthday i was needing to have. "
The physicist:
"Are you okay?"
Me:
"I am better today.
Been in a funk since Monday.
Taking one day at a time.
Looking forward to this grilled cheese. :-) "

The psychologist:
"Happy Birthday!!!
Healthy deliciousness Nom!"

Last night, I had my European-time dinner, meaning I ate about 10 PM.
Hey, late dining has been part of my groove for years, ever since I started teaching night classes.
So if it works... n'est-ce pas?
I couldn't resist the rest of the pear salad - so tangy from its rice wine vinegar bath, so sweet from the fruit!
The wrap is using pickled chicken, a la Chick-Fil-A, with me using up the last of the Food Lion rotisserie chicken from a week ago.

The Blue Apron is yielding two more dining experiences on top of the two already from this first meal.
For brunch, I ate the other grown-up grilled cheese sandwich, plus a green apple from Michael, with my coffee in the "Favorite Aunt" mug from my dearest Christina.
For slunch, or perhaps dinner, I'll have the rest of the butter lettuce in a BIG salad with tuna.
Seinfeld fans, like my ex, will get that little inside joke.
Now, I've watched the final episode of "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist", with the strains of Don MacLean's song about "the day the music died" still in my head, mingled with the memory of Sam Johnson singing it and my Daddy's last birthday.
Time to dry my tears, get dressed, and go into the sunshine.
I think I'll bring a popsicle.