Our experience of holidays are as diverse and complicated as families, emotions, and grief. In this Father’s Day episode, Anita of Wild Thistle Kitchen explores all of these topics so beautifully and bravely. Anita’s father, Scott, wasn’t the typical dad, (if there is such a dad, really, outside of movies). His work brought him all over the world, where he embedded himself in the local cultures for months or even years at a time, away from his family. When Scott was home, he could sometimes be a loner when some moods hit. And yet, despite this, he was Anita’s caretaker, support system, music teacher, encourager, partner in adventure, and example in living a life of exploration and freedom, both in the kitchen and out of the kitchen. I’ll admit that, as I listened to Anita talk, I wanted to play armchair psychologist - to dive deep and try to make sense of her experience of her father in a way that I could categorize and explain for myself. But the reality is pretty simple. Anita and her dad were soulmates - they just got each other. They loved each other, they were there for each other, and they were a gift to one another. Whether Father’s Day is complicated by your personal experiences of family, regret, or grief or whether Father’s day is a joyful celebration of a man who was everything he should have been, Anita’s story will resonate and make you feel that Father’s Day has room for you and your experiences also. Highlights of Ep. 074 with Anita of Wild Thistle Kitchen The exhausting, complicated process of grief Anita’s father as the rebel son, care taker, free spirt, traveler, writer, musician What Anita used to think every time she saw an airplane Scott's greatest legacy A Shepherd's Pie Recipe as a window into Scott's personality "A soulmate doesn't have to be a romantic partner" Anita's connection to her family's land Cooking wild thistles How to Contact Anita of Wild Thistle Kitchen Website: www.wildthistlekitchen.com Instagram: @wild.thistle.kitchen Pinterest: @wildthistlekitchen Anita has written more about her father, Scott https://wildthistlekitchen.com/wild-thistles-and-wineberries https://wildthistlekitchen.com/a-cat-named-gravy/ Recipes Related to Ep. 074 from Anita of Wild Thistle Kitchen Easy Traditional Cottage Pie (with ONE Secret Ingredient) More Storied Recipe Podcast Episodes About Food & Grief Ep. 065 with Adina Bailey, Founder of TakeThemAMeal Ep. 059 - A Sacred Conversation with Diana Silva, Mole Mama More Storied Recipe Podcast Episodes about Food and Holidays Ep. 064 - A Passover Episode with Marissa Wojcik Ep. 051 - The Annual Making of the Christmas Pudding Ep. 047 - The Thanksgiving Episode More About The Storied Recipe Podcast My weekly guests share a recipe cherished for its significance to their culture, heritage, memories, and family. I make, photograph, and share these recipes on my food and photography blog, www.thestoriedrecipe.com. During the interview, we use the recipe as a springboard and dive deep into the guest's life experiences, culture, and expertise. As a community, we become more grateful for the gift of food, better cooks and global citizens, and we honor those that loved us through their cooking. Support the podcast with a share or review: The Storied Recipe is more than a podcast. It is a community of curious, thoughtful individuals that love food, culture, and people. I depend on the community for feedback and the growth of the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, would you please consider sending it to a friend or family member? Also, every review helps new listeners find the podcast. They mean so, so much to me personally. With all the different devices and podcast players out there, it can be a little tricky to figure out how to figure out how to leave one. If you click on this link, a really smart guy named Daniel crea