Now seems like a good time, another chance to clean our slate, learn something new and become a smarter and better person.

On a dreary, cold rainy day in 2010, I decided to see what was lurking in my kitchen pantry. You know, that cupboard in the kitchen where you just stuff canned food that you have purchased from the grocery store. Never mind the "buy one, get one free" special, if you can stack 'em, I say they stay; why use extra steps to go to the sub pantry in the mud room?

The sub pantry contains many cans of important things for just in case you need an extra, like two cans of tuna fish for a special recipe. What could I expect to find in the pantry but a spider or two and some dusty shelves?



Pandora's pantry

Sorting the stored food onto the kitchen countertop was an epiphany. This looked like the beginning of a problem called hoarding. I had opened Pandora's Box.

In Greek mythology, a beautiful woman named Pandora was sent to Earth by the gods to avenge the theft of fire from heaven by Prometheus. She brought with her a box from which all human ills escaped; only hope remained.

As a half-educated psychologist, I must have hope and get myself under control. I have known for some time that I am a foodaholic. I love to grow food in my garden and on my apple trees. I love to harvest the food, cook the food, smell the food and most of all eat the food.

Yes, I even have dreams about food and attending banquets, and they are all in living color. I probably will not be permitted to enter Heaven because certainly I will ask, "What's for dinner?"



Mayonaise malaise

As I viewed everything on the counter top, I was ashamed of my greed. Perhaps I could blame someone else; those nice guests who dumped some cheese dip and salted cocktail nuts on me. I don't remember purchasing them. Perhaps this hoarding was left over from Disaster Preparedness and

HAM radio training, always be prepared.

Frankly the five jars of mayonnaise I cannot explain. Maybe I was anticipating a run on the grocery store. I could become a hero by passing out jars of mayonnaise to my friends and neighbors, as I simultaneously operate my portable HAM radio with my free hand. You never know, a sandwich might be important in an emergency.

On to the sub pantry and another shock. Let's just say

deep shelves hold dark secrets that I refuse to divulge. I will admit that the Sequim Food Bank is very happy to share the bounty from one anonymous donor. Maybe I was stockpiling for a hungry family? I want to think I had good intentions. I have turned over a new leaf and made a new beginning.

If, as chance would have it, any of you meet me in the grocery store, I never should have anything but fresh produce, meat, milk and wine in my basket. If you see a can of anything, tell me to go home and search the pantry. Hello, my name is Sharon and I am a recovering foodaholic and hoarder.



Sharon Brazier lives in Sequim.