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Writer's pictureHolly McGrath

Tortellini Soup with Chicken Italian Sausage and Kale

This recipe is inspired by the Emotional dimension of wellness.


Emotional wellness is about feeling and being in touch with your emotions. It is about managing your emotions so that your life doesn’t fall apart each time something doesn’t go your way. It involves controlling your reactions when disaster strikes and learning that your response is a choice you make but one that takes time to develop.


“Sometimes your heart needs more time to accept what your mind already knows.“ - Unknown

I'm certain we all know someone affected by cancer and are familiar with what the disease and its treatments do to the body. Sadly, I recently lost a beautiful friend, Terry, to this horrible disease.



We met 20 years ago while we were both single and living in close proximity to each other. One day, Terry walked into my real estate office inquiring about purchasing a home, and I was the lucky one to share in the transaction with her. She blew into the office like a breath of fresh air. She was tall, willowy, blonde, tan, and carefree. I remember how she wore cargo shorts and a tank top so naturally unaware of her beauty.

Upon Terry entering my office, I was drawn to her. She was one of those people that you immediately connect with - so easy going and fun. We both had teenage boys and became recently single, so we lamented to each other about our recent break ups. We spent weeks together, and I found her a new home just blocks from mine.

Terry loved the outdoors, water skiing, and jet skiing - another thing we shared in common! She had this calming disposition, and I can still hear her voice saying “hey girl” whenever she called or walked in the door. We had fun times sharing single-hood together in our 30’s: the prime of our lives. We were both blessed to have nice homes, good kids, and great careers, but were both looking for Mr. Right instead of all the Mr. Wrongs we came across.

Ironically, Terry and I met our Mr. Rights at the exact same time. They were very similar men who were successful and confident but more importantly genuinely loving and very giving. Each of our husbands helped our extended families so much so that it changed their lives for the better. I was blessed to attend her beautiful wedding to her amazing husband, Jack. I remember how we joked about our lives running parallel to each other.

Over the years, we never lost touch. We spoke on the phone a few times a year, texted regularly, and watched each others lives play out on Facebook. Ironically, we even both ended up retiring to Florida only about an away hour from each other! Later we shared experiences with our RV’s, and found out we had the same salesperson help us purchase one… What are the odds?

“Realize that everything connects to everything else.” - Leonardo DaVinci

Recently, Terry reached out to me to inform me that she was in my neighborhood having her RV serviced and wanted to come see me and my new home. She also informed me that she had an illness but was going to be fine. She didn’t say cancer, but that she did mention getting treatment from the Mayo Clinic. She never expressed how serious her illness was nor how much it had progressed, but later I found out that she was on a list as a stem cell recipient. I regret that day when Terry wanted to see me. I regret that I pushed her off, as we were in the middle of getting our RV packed up for a visit to my in-laws. In hindsight, I believe that she was trying to see me to connect face to face as she didn’t know how much longer she might live.


As the months progressed, Terry blogged about her stem cell experience on the Caring Bridge website describing her good and bad days. However, she would mask her hard days with stories of encouragement about people she was helping in the hospital: the ones who shared in her journey with cancer. It seemed like Terry was going to be one of the lucky ones and pull through.


One evening, as I was scrolling through Facebook, I ran across a post that Terry had passed. I was shocked, deeply saddened and, most of all, full of regret for not taking the time to see her when she was trying to get together. Perhaps, she was wanting share the severity of her illness. Little did I know that would be the last time I would hear her voice saying, “hey girl.”

“The hardest thing is the last GOODBYE, especially if you didn’t know it really was the very last one.” - Unknown

Losing Terry taught me a very valuable lesson on the importance of slowing down and listening to others' needs, feelings, desires, fears, celebrations, and especially heartbreaks. Life suddenly seems painfully precious to me. So, moving forward, I've made it a point to consciously be more present with the ones around me because everything we take for granted can be snatched away at any given moment.

Terry was at a time in her life where she had attained all of life’s greatest blessings until the day a hospital visit uncovered a fateful prognosis, but she never gave up. In fact, she made it a mission to use her illness as a way to help others. She left this life teaching many a great lesson of courage and hope and, most of all, about unselfish love for others. I will be forever touched by her friendship.

“When someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.” - Unknown

Recipe of the Day: Tortellini Soup with Chicken Italian Sausage and Kale

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb Mild Chicken Italian Sausage, ground

  • 1 Onion, minced

  • 6 Garlic Cloves, minced

  • 1 Quart Chicken Stock

  • 1 (14 oz) Can Crushed Tomatoes

  • 2 Tbsp Tomato Paste

  • 1 tsp Salt

  • 1 Bunch Kale, stems removed

  • 1 (10 oz) Bag of Tortellini, fresh (not dried)

  • 1 Cup Heavy Cream

  • Optional Parmesan Cheese

  • Optional 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes


INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Heat a large soup pot over medium-high heat.

  2. Remove the sausage from the casings. Add the sausage, onions and garlic to the pot and sauté until the onions are soft and translucent, about 5 minutes. Drain any excessive fat.

  3. Add the chicken stock, crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Whisk until tomato paste is fully incorporated.

  4. Bring to a boil. Season with salt then simmer for 15 minutes.

  5. Add the kale, tortellini and heavy cream.



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