It's that time of year again. I'm very excited. While Easter is by far my least favorite holiday (I don't like eating in parks, Sundays depress me and it sometimes falls on my birthday) I start to get excited around this time... My birthday is around the corner (And Easter won't fall on my Birthday again until 2063!! yahooo!), it's getting warmer (time to break out the Maxi dresses!) and summer is soooo clooose!
Now I was raised Catholic, like any good Mexicana/Italiana girl. And even as a girl growing up, I always gave up something during Lent. My first being 6th grade, when I gave up ALL sweets. Now, anyone who knows me, knows I am a sugar Super Freak. I love donuts and cake, cookies and Snickers bars. Ice cream, Twinkies, you name it. It was very hard. But I did it. I ignored the chocolate chip cookies that came with my cafeteria lunch, I ate popcorn and drooled at my mum eating Sour Patch kids at the movie theatre, which we frequented weekly. I even ignored the wedding cake at my Grandma's wedding in Laughlin, not to mention I didn't eat cake at my 12th birthday party which was four days before Easter-but my Mum froze me a couple pieces ;)
And on Easter Sunday, 1992, along with my Easter basket was a basket sent from my Aunt with King Sized Snickers bars, Milky Ways, Baby Ruths, Twix etc. (fyi I was about 50 lbs soaking wet. A twig of a girl really. I just have a major sweet tooth)
I'm older now, and no longer Catholic. Tolerance is something my Husband and I will pass on to our children while they have play dates with their gay "uncles" and "aunts" (that's a whole other blog) But I am a church goer and my Faith and love for Jesus is stronger than ever and the Will to sacrifice is still there, with or without Catholicism.
So this became a tradition for me, though some years were not as harsh as others, like my senior year, I gave up Bacon. I don't recall feeling very deprived. As I grow older, this is something that actually bothers me quite a bit. I'm not a preacher, so please don't take this as me spreading the word or teaching a lesson, but my faith is strong. I know Jesus lived forty days and forty nights in the desert with no food or water and the devil tempted him the whole time. So why can't I give up something as trivial as coffee (I did this last year and cheated twice) something I know isn't important, but something I can't start my day without. Why would I give up bacon? The temptation wasn't there. It's not like I lived at The International House of Pancakes. I gave up fast food one year. Don't get me wrong, I love McDonalds! But it's not like I didn't have plenty of other food to keep me satisfied. So I made burgers at home.
I'm not knocking anyones choice of sacrifice. Giving up fast food for lent is a healthy choice with positive results- unless you're making your own 1/4 pounders at home like me. So where is the sacrifice? Am I going to give up coffee, but still throw back Redbull? Will I give up tacos, but order quesadillas instead? Am I going to give up Sonic burgers, knowing the closest one is 25 miles away?
I have a dear friend who did a 21 Day Health Challenge and conquered it. Alcohol was not allowed. In fact the only beverages allowed were tea and water. While my hypoglycemic body will cause me to go into shock if I lived on soup for more than a day (no, really, i could die) I have been inspired.
So this is it. I am giving up alcohol. And, it's kind of a big deal. Normally, I can come home and enjoy a glass of wine, but it usually turns into three or four. I am a teacher, and my students mean the world to me, so drinking on week days is not the norm. Being hungover with 36 four and five year olds, does not appeal to me in the least. But if Happy Hour comes a callin' you can bet I'll be ordering my second round before my first is finished.
Before you say or think anything, let me clear up a few things. I am not an alcoholic. What I am, is a 20 something woman, with a great job, a wonderful husband and ZERO children. I am enjoying this phase of my life, where a hangover is not interrupted by my child's soccer game. And in my social circle, a successful week at work is celebrated over cocktails. My steak is not the same unless I pair it with my favorite Black Mountain Pinot Noir (6.99 at Trader Joes, I highly recommend it) How will I get through Karaoke at The 100-1 bar without a Vodka Tonic? No, really, TELL ME. This isn't even about getting drunk. It's about relaaaxing. What am I to do on Girls night? I can see the temptation already. It's in my refrigerator as a matter of fact, waiting to be uncorked, if that's even a word.
Am I (or all of us?) afraid to be ourselves? Can I not be the greatest ME possible without a cocktail? I like ME. I really do. I think I am fun, witty, loyal and caring. My husband and I are very social and can make conversation with everyone. So what's the big deal?? I am soon about to find out.
Oh, I am also giving up bread. That's just a vanity thing really. Bathing suit season is around the corner.
Fat Tuesday is in two days. Mardi Gras baby. I'll keep you posted. On the bright side, this will all be over in time for my 30th birthday. I plan on drinking the years away, thank you very much.
