Then, we both viewed Julie and Julia. [sidebar: Why isn't it called Julia and Julie?] Once again, Nora Ephron managed to transform my choleric* state to pleasure.
Now, without apology, I'm "all about the food." Food that I read about someone eating. Food I thought about eating. Food that I watched someone eat. Food that I plan to eat. Food that I wished I'd eaten when I had the chance. Food that I heard that someone ate when I wasn't around. Food that I think about cooking. Food that I watched someone cook. Food that I swear I will cook. Food that I read about. Food that someone wouldn't share with me. Food that I won't share. Food that I wished I had cooked when I had the chance. Food that I heard that someone cooked. And food that I actually experienced.
But there's more to my food obsession.
A great feast is like a great book--memorable, rewarding, and inspiring. I end both experiences musing over what could have been more satisfying while still appreciating the effort. Shortly after eating and reading, I find myself refashioning my memories into purple passage moments, not just to savor but also, to improve upon.
Ultimately, cooking, like reading, affords me ethical opportunities. I'll explain. Abraham Maslow worked with and wrote about self-actualizers. Studying his work, I categorized the list of self-actualizing traits into 3 categories: 1. self-examination and self-acceptance; 2. resisting enculturation; and 3. contributing to a better world. Cooking, like reading, affords me insights into self-actualizing. To cook for someone else and to read about someone else calls me to reevaluate myself within and outside of cultural expectations in order to commit to others. This blog invites you along my journey to connect these two passions--cooking and reading--in order to self-actualize.
Warning: I intend to abuse this forum to develop my vocabulary.
*Choleric: Easily irritated or angered; hot-tempered [from Wordsmith]
Here's an interesting blog on food and ethical decisions from Hélčne M. Lawler, who is a PhD Candidate in the Department of Political Science at the University of Western Ontario. http://www.ontariolocavore.wordpress.com/ Enjoy!
