Channeling my inner Julia Child

I will be the first to admit that at times I have a tendency to obsess over things and lately the things I have become obsessed over are actually real people. This is really nothing new. Don't worry though, unless you either wrote a book or are the subject of one you're probably safe from my obsessive behavior. Maybe obsessive is even a little strong, let's say it's more of a mixture of adoration and respect.

Anyway, I recently read the book (or listened to rather) My Life in France by Julia Child and what started out as a curiosity for the 6'2" boisterous woman quickly turned into appreciation. Most people know Julia as the outgoing quirky woman with a cooking show long before Food Network had a place in cable land, but reading the book made me realize how she found such success, especially during a time when a woman in the spotlight was out of the ordinary. Though I admire her cooking skill (and definitely share her passion for eating) and can only hope that someday I can cook at least half as well as her, its her attitude, compassion, love for life and sense of humor that truly inspired me. She found a way to interject her zest for life and infectious energy into everything she did and it paid off. Chances are she could have found a passion for anything and would have probably been quiet successful.

The other part of Julia's life that I found fascinating was her relationship with her husband (Julia is pictured to the right with her husband, Paul, in a postcard they sent to friends for Valentine's Day). It seems through everything I can find about the two that they truly had a friendship and partnership above and beyond their marriage. They knew how to have fun and enjoy each others company, but they also challenged one another and pushed the other to follow their dreams. They signed letters to friends and family jointly as "Pulia" (Paul + Julia) long before it became a trendy phenomenon for celebrities like "Brangelina." They each found a way to support one another and get involved in the others passions and interests. The two ended up in France shortly after they got married because of Paul's job as a diplomat for the United States Government, but instead of just tagging along Julia made the most of the opportunity which obviously paid off. Paul not only supported her curiosity for cooking that began in France, he was extremely involved in the process even down to helping building sets for her TV show and always serving as the taste tester as she perfected recipes for her various cooking projects. I am sure they had their moments and their relationship wasn't always perfect, but it came pretty close as far as I can see.

As silly as it may seem, Julia Child has become a role model of how I want to live my life. And maybe, if I can channel all of her other positive traits, then learning to cook will just come naturally. (That might be pushing it.) One thing is for sure, if I ever get a chance to have a dinner with 10 guests dead or alive, she will definitely receive an invite. Maybe she'll even cater it. . . A girl can dream, right?