Peanut Butter and Me

In our last writing group, we were asked to write something on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. I wrote two rather different things - first, what naturally came into my mind, and the second more consciously addressing the assigned topic.

PBJ To Go

I was in the midst of a nervous breakdown when I finally dragged myself off to recorder camp in 2003. My appetite had been AWOL for several months already, but a flare of panic attacks completely paralyzed me when it was time to leave for camp. I was reduced to watching the home and garden station on TV long into the night - I couldn't sleep, either. The next day I reached my psychiatrist on the phone, and she encouraged me out the door.

But I still wasn't up to socializing. One experience in the cafeteria proved to me that the lingering idea that I ought to be interested in food wasn't enough to justify my going to the loud dining room with too many people and too many decisions.

So I stayed in my room at mealtimes and got a friend to bring me whatever she could carry away with her: single-serving packets of butter, peanut butter, and jelly, plus pieces of bread, and fruit salad in a plastic cup. I used my swiss army knife to spread the toppings on the bread, and read the Swiss Family Robinson to calm my nerves and help ease the food down.

By the end of the week, I'm pleased to report, the new medication had taken effect and my appetite returned.
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My History of Peanut Butter Sandwiches

Peanut butter is a funny substance. I don't know why it became common to take that particular nut and grind it into a paste. Perhaps there were so many of them? Perhaps so it could be used as an ingredient in various recipes? Don't know. But there it is, and combined with the grain in bread, peanut butter makes a complete and nourishing protein.

So generations of mothers have made peanut butter sandwiches for their children's lunches. Now, I do know something about sandwiches. The Earl of Sandwich apprently got the idea of putting food betwen slices of bread so he could eat meat without leaving the gambling table.

Anway, peanut butter is commonly paired with banana, or grape jelly, or strawberry jam. I like to add a little butter or margarine to help the peanut butter slide down my throat. Apricot or peach jam goes as well with peanut butter as strawberry jam. And honey goes very well with banana and peanut butter. But be sure you put it directly on the bread, not on top of the peanut butter or bananas, or it will flow right out of the sandwich, and probably onto you.