Julia & Camille

Last night I went to see Julie and Julia... fabulous movie! I highly recommend it... but as I sat there I started seeing so many parallels to my own life. Let me elaborate a bit...

1. Lost. I recently turned 31. I found myself at a rather paralyzing position, a deer caught in the headlights if you will... where I found it hard to move in any direction really. I have a good job, but felt I should be moving forward... where is forward, I don't know... but forward none the less... to find my real passion for life. I started by applying for a Ph.D. program to work on part-time, while I continued to work full-time (a benefit of working for a university). The field I applied to was a suggestion from my boss, who noted that most people in my field completed this degree. I had reservations about it and after the first semester, I dropped out (and I have never given up when it comes to my education). But the program wasn't my passion. And I want to find and ignite the fire inside... so I have been asking myself quite frequently, what do I really want to do? This is the question that both Julie and Julia asked themselves. Often times you plan life out up to a point, but then get there and say, what next... which is exactly what I have been saying this past year...
2. Publishing. I found the story of trying to get published very true to life, and had to smile at a few of the common trials that come with your first work for publication. I am a published author, but have been getting pressure from my publishers to come up with a new work for publication. After coming up with a list of potential topics, and sending them into my publishers for review, they asked me to do a Cooking for One Cookbook. To be quite honest, my first reaction is that "What? I'm no cook!" The irony of this whole situation is that I started working as a "stringer" for the local newspaper (The Daily Herald) in my spare time and the editor has continually asked me to write articles for the "Foods" section. A blessing in disguise... I think so, despite my surprise and inexperience. I've found that most awkward turns in our life are. Writing these articles has opened my eyes to the food community and given me experiences and contacts from which to gain confidence to attempt to write a cookbook.
3. Novice. Seeing Julia (as portrayed by Meryl Streep), helped me realize that most cooks are novices that have to blunder their way through the hard-knocks of the pantry to gain a real understanding of cooking. I decided that I can do that... I can commit to try. I was inspired. So here it goes...
4. Blogging. I love that Julie in the movie was a blogger. I have come to love blogging, because it is a very real forum for what I consider my creative and expressive avenues. It's a bit mystical sometimes when I consider that I publish to the unknown, but that's what makes it magical to me... the small hope that someone cares and feels the same. I believe we all have to have outlets where our personality takes form and shape... in those moments you really begin to know yourself.

It is for these reasons and more that I have the conviction to move forward. I'm half tempted to start a Cooking for One blog just to see what happens, and mostly to document my thoughts and ideas as I go through other cookbooks and recipes to learn how to create and modify my own recipes for one. See that's the real trouble... and possibly the real draw when cooking for one... can you still learn how to cook delectable meals on such a scaled down level? We shall see...