SPAIN 3: A Spanish Love Affair

"WARNING: The Following is NOT intended for children under 17 years of age. RATED R for Language, Strong Sexual Content, & Nudity"


'You are what I never knew I always wanted.' ~ Fools Rush In (The Movie)

When you come to Spain there are a few things you must do; among these things are: 1. See a flamenco dance.   2. Witness a bull fight.  AND  3. Fall in love. Spain, being one of the Romance Cultures and Languages along with Italy and France, begs you to come and fall in love.  I have yet to do the first two, but the third has come to me quiet unexpectedly.  

There are many things in this little 'Pueblo Blanco' (white town) that make me turn my head . . . the puppies, the orange trees, a prickly pear [every time I see a prickly pear I want to sing The Bare Necessities of life song from the Jungle Book 'Don't pick a prickly pear by the paw. When you pick a pear try to use the claw . . .' [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NKSJJZ9fqFc].  Rarely does a man make me turn my head except to wish 'Hola' to as I pass by.  There are not many men in this village who are near my age and the few who are in my age group are either taken or will be soon by my friends Rikke & Catu.  Before I left for Spain I was told, on more than one occasion, that I should report back home with the truth on Spanish men.

The other night Catu, Rikke and I went out for a drink at one of the local bars.  The girls chatted away about a guy that they had seen earlier, and they began to devise a plan to steal him away from his girlfriend - all in good fun of course!  And I, well perhaps my heart wasn't in it.  Oh sure, I nod in agreement and smile to acknowledge that I do like men, but for me my mind begins to wander onto other things. . . my heart is elsewhere beyond this hilltop and onto my next adventure. . . 

Then something my mother told me before I left pulls me out of the clouds, 'Be present in everything you do.  The time will go by fast and then it will be over and you don't want to regret not being present in every moment.' That's an often used phrase in our home 'be present'! So, I pulled myself back down and reminded myself that I am currently in my adventure - so pay attention! You never know what opportunity awaits you, begging to be noticed.

This morning I awoke after 7 nights filled with dreams - I have yet to sleep deeply since I have been here - and I prepared to 'seize the day'.  Little did I know today would be the day my love affair would begin . . .

But alas, it is not a man I have fallen for, but rather a pear! And not just any pear, but food in general.  Rikke has made quite a sport out of feeding me and pushing me far beyond my 'full' capacity.  Word to the wise, never tell anyone here that you are trying to gain weight.  They will stuff you like they are preparing to eat you for the entire winter! Rikke and I have practiced cooking many dishes, but tonight . . .oh my! . . . tonight the course of my love life, well my eating love life, changed forever!

I created a masterpiece with 7 simple ingredients: 1 whole naked pear, red wine, azucar (sugar), cinnamon, vanilla, and fresh squeezed lemon all poured atop vanilla ice cream.  I have never had poached pears before, and boy have I been missing out! The warm, naked flesh of pear peaking out amongst the cold ice cream, the bitter red wine melting into the cinnamon, sugar and cream - simply divine! The tiniest zest of lemon baring witness to the deep red and bright white swirls of contrasting colors and flavors.  Everything so perfectly and recklessly intertwined in a seductive dance.  Julia Child knew what she was talking about when she referred to food nearing orgasmic! Who needs men when you can have a love affair with food?! I laugh, but there is some truth in its irony.  

However sweet this relationship is, it is rather one-sided.  I keep taking and taking, it keeps giving and giving, never expecting anything in return except that I keep returning for more.  Luckily for now I can afford to indulge in such a filling relationship! A steamy Spanish love affair isn't meant to last forever, but for now I plan to enjoy every touch, smell, taste, and sound.  I will be present in this moment.  I will not pull the magic thread (http://www.noogenesis.com/pineapple/magic_thread.html) of life too quickly for it will be over before it even had a chance to begin.