Category: personal

Last year I embarked on a rather out of character foray into cooking books and books about food. It happened as a result of a surprise book club I joined while on a cruise. Who knew cruise’s had book clubs? I went on my vacation armed with my kindle and a full library, but on a whim I joined the cruise director and about a dozen other folks for Ruth Reichl’s memoir, Save Me the Plums.

It wasn’t a book I’d ordinarily pick up to read, but I was drawn into the food world, and I was equally fascinated by her commentary on publishing. I loved it! And, it opened up a new world of interest for me, and so it was a natural segue to reading about Julia Child.

I remember watching The French Chef on PBS when I was a little kid, but it was the movie Julie and Julia that piqued my interest in this fascinating woman. Well…if I’m being totally honest, it was Stanley Tucci’s performance as Paul Child that I really adored.

So, I picked up this authorized biography by Noel Riley Fitch, Appetite for Life, to satisfy my appetite for this fascinating couple. [did you see what I did there?].

I enjoyed learning about Julia Child and her adventures abroad, her relationships, and her career as author and television personality. I was surprised and delighted by the same attention to her husband, Paul. As far as biographies go, this one is pretty comprehensive and reads a lot like a history textbook. That made for a slow read…very slow at times…but always chock full of detail. I was in it for the details, after all, so where the book fails to be engaging as entertainment, it wins at delivering a great deal of information without coming across as a gossip rag.

I recommend Appetite for Life for those interested in a high level of detail and information about Julia and Paul Child, but if you’re looking for a casual read, this isn’t it. For me, it satisfied my curiosity — and led me down a rabbit hole of classic episodes of The French Chef.

Bon appétit!

How do you cure writer’s block? You write.

I had the fun and inspiring opportunity to join a writer’s group sponsored by Blue Star Families, and it was a terrific kick in the keister to get writing. Poet Seema Reza led us through an analysis of David Allen Sullivan’s powerful poem, “Permission Granted,” followed by a prompt based on the poem. Here’s mine. I think it’s been a million years since I share some poetry here:

There’s a crisp tinge in the air these days, and I’ve taken out my favorite sweater. I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing it in public, but it’s just right for the back porch and my morning cup of coffee.

I have a lovely view of the bay and enjoying the sunrise with that cup of coffee never gets old. At this time of year, the sun is moving south across the horizon and it’s a visual reminder of the passing of time and the changing seasons.

Fall has a subdued charm that is different from the joy of spring and warmth of summer. Fall foliage and flowers coordinate with the deep orange of the harvest moon and the ever-present scent of pumpkin spice and cinnamon.

For me, fall heralds a season of gratitude that leads up to Thanksgiving.

In this most unusual year when we’ve all pretty much kept to ourselves, I’m grateful for my little haven down the bay, not just home, but a little slice of heaven.