We did consider various options. A cook? Then came the questions: Would the cleanliness and neatness in the cooking process or the kitchen be maintained to the same standards my wife has set? And what about the taste? My wife’s cooking is highly appreciated by everyone who has had the chance to try it. So, the idea of hiring a cook was discarded by both of us. Ordering from outside? Our sensitive stomachs couldn’t withstand restaurant food. Then, my younger son, searching online, managed to find a caterer who provided homemade, home-style food, mostly for elderly citizens.

We tried it for about six months. The idea was to survive the worst part of summer without having to enter the kitchen in the morning, where the heat could roast anyone. The food was good, mild on the stomach, and tasty. But after six months, my wife got bored.

"This has become mechanical. The same menu repeats every week. What will I do with the extra time? I need to keep myself engaged," she said. Having led a very busy and active life, she couldn’t imagine her days without work. And so, the routine of cooking resumed.

It’s not just me getting older—she’s aging too. With advancing age come aching backs and creaking joints. After trying a few other caterers and not finding them up to our standards, my wife found her way back to the kitchen.

During our recent visit to the USA, we concluded that she needed a break and should return to using the first caterer. I was happy with that decision. But then disaster struck. I had a heart attack, followed by cancer, and the treatment that came with it restricted my intake of salt, sugar, fat, and even spice. So, how could we continue ordering food from outside? Bad luck again. However, two months after the conclusion of my cancer treatment, I felt that home food was still suitable for me. The first caterer we used provided food primarily for senior citizens—low in salt, fat, spice, and sugar. That food should be tolerable for me.

I persuaded my wife to go back to that caterer, and I’m happy that she’s finally getting some rest.

Continued in 155. Tired But Not Retired - Part 5