brunch

I had brunch with three friends today, British girls at various stages of the "living in France" experience. The girls usually meet at a café for pastries and coffee, but one of them suggested meeting at her place for pancakes.

Who can argue with pancakes?

Note: only Americans imagine this when we say "pancakes." I started out confused when the girls started suggesting toppings: jam, nutella, lemon & sugar. No maple syrup? I quickly realized that "pancakes" were more like crêpes. It turns out this this thin style is more common in the UK, and the lemon sugar combination is quite popular. Try it yourself.

Now, this is not complaining. I gorged myself on fig- and honey-topped crêpes, swallowed down with mimosas and four hours of good conversation. The room was sunny; our attitudes are thawing after a the winter. There were fresh flowers on the table. I learned how to flip a crêpe like this guy. It was relaxing.

This isn't a word I use much. I'm not exactly a "relaxed" person. I'm certainly not someone who friends would say is "relaxing" or "calming" to be around. I take on too many projects. I give myself too much homework. While the champagne calmed me, there was still a part of my head that was saying, "Work's waiting on you at home. You need to get going."

But we'll be going soon enough–back to the States with no idea when we'll return to France. While Joe & I have already decided that European travel is a part of our lives, & that we'll find ways to make that possible, the next trip feels light years away. I wanted to slow down, take a break & enjoy the friends I'm making during our adventure here.

I'm getting better at this whole relaxation thing, & it's definitely helping my spirits. While with the girls, we started talking about Lent. Who's giving up what & why. I'll be honest: I haven't started yet. I've been evaluating & adapting. I'm making up my days after Easter & am sticking to this Lent calendar. For years, my mom has picked up instead of giving up–picked up praying the rosary each day. I've frequently followed her lead, & will again this year.

I'm trying desperately not to use Lent, like so many, as a diet plan. I need to cut back on sugars again & start getting more of the balanced, fresh diet I had when I was in college (& less worried, out of naivety, about my grocery bills). I don't want to focus on my exterior this Lent. I want to focus on fasting, on putting good things–both food & messages–into my body so that when spring starts in full, I'm in good form to greet it.

Winter & hormones hit me hard this year. It's rare that there isn't a pastry or cake on the table, that there isn't beer or wine with dinner & little water throughout the day. It's time to shift my thinking, & my friends & husband are helping with that. They're giving my support in unexpected ways, whether it's reminding me that a brownie isn't the end of the world or inviting me out for a few hours of time to enjoy the blessing we've been given in our time here.

What are your plans for Lent, or if you don't practice it, how are you preparing yourself for the coming warm weather?

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