It has been far too long since I have shared my foodie point of view. This is in no way due to the fact that I have been bereft of thoughts, but more so because I have been inundated with schoolwork, nights at the restaurant, and that whole finding a full time job and transitioning into adulthood business. Thankfully I have a part time job now that I quite enjoy...a small bit of affirmation despite not finding a full time position just yet. If only there were more hours in the day to search. But there will be no settling on my part so I will wait it out. The only solace I feel when I am drowning in homework, is the fact that nearly everyone around me here at Georgetown is feeling just as overwhelmed, seniors included. What happened to the simple senior year everyone mentioned. Or perhaps that is just some illusion people create for themselves by checking out, partying excessively, and pretending that school is irrelevant. Sadly, as the future and responsibilities are coming ever drastically closer, lessons in the classroom do seem a tad less relevant. Applying the lessons acquired in the classroom seems like a more worthy undertaking, but I am not the type to give up entirely. Although sometimes I wish I was one of those carefree Wednesday night bar hoppers. Ah nah I don't. Not my style. I really prefer working it seems! I spend my weekends at Filomena Ristorante nowadays. Only the best Italian food in all of the District. It took entirely too long for me to inquire about a job there, as I am in love with everything about it. Shame I never figured it out sooner. The employee meals are to die for, obviously. And working with people has been great practice for me; I am developing a thicker skin our of necessity. My coworkers are so cheery and warm hearted. There is a great sense of camaraderie that they have so graciously extended to me... like a family. We share a meal every shift called "family dinner" and it is a very fitting name. Good food, with good people. Is there really anything else more fundamental to our happiness? I am having a hard time coming up with it if there is.
Now, a thought provoking question at the end of a hellishly busy week of paper writing, long restaurant hours, on Valentine's day no less (that was a party :/ ), and assignment after assignment. What is more comforting than family and friends? No, boyfriends out there-You are not the answer. Sorry. Drumroll please...
The answer is CHOCOLATE CAKE. Ever have a really awful date, and rush home so that you can sit in your jammies, snuggle up in bed, and devour some chocolate decadence? Please tell me I am not the only person that does that. Or how about the time you made an entire chocolate cake, for a date that you anticipated having, just to be disappointed and stood up. The regiment is the same however. Home. Bed. Cake. Repeat. It is uncanny how an inanimate object has such an overall calming essence. Maybe it is the big glass of milk that hits the spot just right after you ingest layer after layer of chocolaty goodness. The dismal part of the remedy I have coined the chocolate cake cureall is that is it not the best for your waistline, guilt complex, or self esteem. Drowning any sorrow in a slice of triple chocolate mousse is only healthy and maybe even acceptable in moderation. Every girl needs her cake. But sometimes what we need more, is perspective. So what if your test was horrible, or it is the time of the month, or the boy you thought was the one turns out to suck... surprise, surprise. Thankfully we are living and breathing proof of resilience. Little detours, annoying circumstances, and tremors might pervade our young years, but that is just a part of life it seems. And these situations are only as wretched as we allow them to be...never so overwheliming that they are able to defeat us. So just remember to keep everything in perespective, funny coming from me, the worry wart. But if you still feel the itch for something chocolate, "raise your glass" of two percent and cozy up with a slice. Or even better, share a slice with a dear friend, in celebration of the beautiful person you are. More frequently we turn to the chocolate cake cureall to cover up sentiments of helplessness, but remember that our dear friend Double Fudge Layer Cake has needs too. A happy companion will do...