Truth be told, I started this blog three weeks ago, when I thought that pies and baking would be on my mind. But, my pie gig didn't happen, along with a myriad of other things that I thought would happen and did not happen. So, although briefly confounded by the fact that so many things I thought would happen didn't happen, I decided that it would be a good idea to start baking up some new memories as we head towards Thanksgiving.

Unknowingly and unexpectedly, my baking would begin early last Saturday morning, when I accompanied my friend, Joanne, a for real baker and the owner of Cardamom Cafe and Bakery, to a cinnamon roll bake off contest, sponsored by the Eating and Drinking in San Diego Facebook group, being held at Modern Times tasting room in Point Loma. Arriving at Cardamom Cafe and Bakery, I found Joanne's contest entry, a pumpkin brioche, rum raisin and apple, cinnamon roll, fresh out of the oven and waiting to be iced.

Slathering those gorgeous cinnamon rolls with spiced cream cheese icing made them perhaps the most perfect and delicious "holiday" cinnamon roll than I've ever tasted. Packing them in the car, my friend and I headed to yet another event. Joanne and I have done countless events together. But this morning seemed different. We both have just weathered some challenges and the short drive to the event allowed us to catch up on where we found ourselves at that moment. In that moment, as we drove those luscious cinnamon rolls to the competition, the past two weeks that had tested my faith, seemed to melt away. Renewed in spirit, we arrived at the brewery just in time for our event.

Since the event was held at a brewery that I never frequent, I had no expectation of knowing anyone. So, I was pleasantly surprised when I was greeted by a bunch of my industry friends and North Park neighbors upon our arrival. I then reconnected with people I haven't seen in months and after consuming several cups of Cafe Moto coffee and cinnamon rolls, I, not only found the joy, but also the hope, which for the last couple of weeks had eluded me. The rest of the event was filled with fun and the best part of it, my friend Joanne won first place for her incredibly delicious pumpkin brioche, rum raisin/apple cinnamon rolls! Although watching my friend receive the recognition that she so richly deserves was truly sweet, the new memories, which I had baked up during the moments of that morning were perhaps even sweeter. During those moments, on that Saturday morning, I was reminded of what was truly important in my life. I allowed myself to be immersed in the sweetness of friendship and really delicious cinnamon rolls. I remembered that who I am is not what I do or what riches I have amassed in my life. I was once again reminded that it was in the sweetest of the moments of my life that defined it and where I would find its true meaning. At the end of the event, I like my friend Joanne, once again felt like a winner and was incredibly grateful for it all. Happy Thanksgiving...hope you bake up some sweet new memories too!