Happy Birthday, Baby!!

Tomorrow is the day that I most looked forward to as a child, but least look forward to as an adult.  I think the tides turned once I hit 40, although it got more dire at 45.  Yes, it is my 49th birthday and it stings just to type it.  If I were an optimist, I would say 49 years young or 49 years well lived or this is just the beginning.  But I am not.  In fact, in the past few months I have seen great amounts of aging occurring in and on my  body.  It is like time lapsed photography....I can see it happening daily, but am at a loss to be able to do anything about it.  Is it the effects of our beloved earth's  gravity or loss of estrogen?  Who knows.  I have a beautiful friend, who believes that wrinkles tell the journey of a life well lived, but I see them as a haphazard series of roads leading to the other side....  I am starting to have an impressive collection of under eye creams that promise to lessen the appearance of fine lines.  I have creams that are supposed to lighten the dark rivulets that inhabit the space just underneath my eyes.  I have cream blush and brush on blush and lip gloss with just a hint of color. I recently purchased an under eye pencil of all things, that is blue and is supposed to hide the black nature of the eye circles.  I am supposed to paint it on with a brush and then cover it with under eye concealer (that I also have to paint with a brush).  The lady at the store tried this combo out on me and my son swore the circles looked...well...more like they belonged.  I can't seem to make it work.  I look more like a highlighted raccoon.

Why so vain...I think we all are to some extent, even the most enlightened buddhists.  Our society places a lot of value on fit, tight bods with smooth faces, smooth hair (god forbid frizz) and rosy colored cheeks.  Don't forget about the white teeth!  We all buy into it in some form. Just wait till you hit 49! There is a big industry out there catering to desperadoes like myself.  I have to say that  it is especially surprising to me that I am all caught up in a frenzy over my aging face and droopy breasts.  I always said it wouldn't matter.  I even told my kids that beauty comes from within, but as it creeps up on me I feel like I am running from my age as it comes right at me with increasing speed.  With that in mind, there ARE some things I can control as the rest of me runs amuck and I take comfort in that.  I can still exercise with passion and I do!  I can eat well and healthfully and I do.  I can be mindful of the choices I make and try to do what is best for me and be kind to others. I can love well.   I can win  trivia games with  categories like favorite t.v. shows of the 60's and so on....but mostly I can keep a sense of humor about this aging body and mind, act as a wise, spirited elder and enjoy the journey as I move into the next phase of life.  Sure....No young guys are going to turn their heads as I pass by and I will never be asked to show my I.D. again, but I carry a diverse, fantastic past within and hopefully that shines through.  If not, I can always try another cream...

I promised some brain food recipes, but instead here are some ideas for the makings of a brain feast fest: blueberries, acai, walnuts and almonds, salmon, chocolate, green tea, coffee, olive oil, olives, flaxseed, tomato, turmeric. Eat some or all of these each week and see how fast you can do math in your head!

Here is a recipe for a couple of seasonal local foods.  Local onions are in at the Davis Food Coop and so are Satsumas and they are on sale.  Of course, this is the time for greens and they are so beautifully displayed in all of their glory at our local Farmer's Market and Coop.  Next blog, I hope to write about olive oil and its "gotta have it" qualities.

Spinach or Dino kale with Nuts (pine, walnuts or chopped almonds) and Currants

This is a made up recipe....but it is really yummy

Ingredients:

Bunch of kale or good quantity of spinach (local)

Olive oil for sauteing 

Fresh, local onions (red) sliced thinly

Nuts of your choice, roasted chop walnuts or almonds into large chunks

currants

Olive oil for drizzling

salt and pepper

Directions:

Wash and prepare greens

Slice onions

Heat olive oil in skillet, saute onions until soft

Add greens and saute...be sure not to overcook...greens still should have their chi, life force, shimmer

Add nuts, currants, salt and pepper

Drizzle with delicious olive oil

This goes well with any main dish.... have some Satumas for dessert and enjoy....