First Sourdough Success... A.K.A. Happiness is a Fresh Baked Loaf of Bread

A little over a year ago, I decided to embark upon a legendary journey.  A journey that would take me through the Floury Mountains, down into the Filtered River, and through the Yeast Forest.  Yes, my friends, I decided to make the Sourdough Pilgrimage.

In hindsight, it was not the greatest idea ever to jump straight into breadmaking with this, the most fussy of breads.  Not that I didn't have any experience making bread before.  Oh no, I had made plenty of bread, but it was only bread in the way that humans are dirt - sure it has all of the same ingredients, but somewhere along the way the atoms get together a little differently.

I had studied the maps, being careful to note down where "there be dragons", and firmed my resolve.  Thus, my first step on the road came to be.  That first step came in the form of Munchie, a lovable young rogue.  Munchie was created by my own fair hand from the raw ingredients flour and water.  I fed him and kept him warm for about a week, until I thought he had matured enough to face the fiery furnace alone.  Unfortunately, I let him down and didn't properly prepare that little bit of him for his first foray, and the Golden Loaf was returned from those elementally heated depths of The Oven as a mere doorstop.

The disappointment weakened poor Munchie.  A fateful forgotten feeding at just the wrong time proved just too much for him, and he fell into inactivity... death.

During my time of mourning, I had promised myself that I would never let anyone down again like I let Munchie down.  I studied, paid attention to other people's quests, and even experimented with the Black Magic of Commercial Yeast.  I felt dirty, but I knew it was for the greater good.  I knew it was the only way to give Munchie's next-of-kin have any chance of becoming one with the Golden Loaf.

I decided it had been long enough.  I had cried enough tears and pored over my regrets for 12 months.  It was time.  And then Munchie 2 was born.

Munchie 2 grew strong quickly, though I knew not to rush him.  I fed him regular meals, kept him clean, and sheltered him for 2 weeks before I even began to think of sending him on his quest.  One day, in his bubbly way, he told me he was ready.  I made preparations as I had envisioned for a year prior.  I knew exactly what to give him to take on his journey and how long it would take him to get there.  I fed him, allowed him to rest overnight, and insisted upon a 3 hour meditation in the morning before he descended into the depths.  And descend into the depths, he did.

Call me a coward, but I couldn't watch.  I knew it was all up to Munchie 2 now.  I walked away.  I knew I would always have a part of him, and I knew he was strong, but there is always that doubt.  The doubt which proved unfounded.

He emerged from Oven Cave with a glow.  A golden glow.  He had become one with the Golden Loaf.  I present to you: my son and his achievement from that day.

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