"Where there's a Will, there's a (Get-a) Way!"

My husband, John, and I have a favorite coastal overnight getaway less than an hour from home.  It is a lodge and spa in the town of Bodega Bay.  This is the area where the Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Birds, was filmed.  We go out there once a year to have a full body massage, a walk on the beach, and dine at a five star restaurant.  The rooms all have ocean views and fireplaces.  It really is a rejuvenating experience.   John even knows the chef and he always makes our stay extra special.   Last year, we had a superb dinner starting with local artisan cheeses, an entree of fresh fish, and to top it off , the chef brought out a slice of his signature chocolate cake.  It was 'To die for!!'.

In the morning, he had Eggs Benedict dishes sent to our room with a flute of champagne and freshly squeezed orange juice.   That was the best Eggs Benedict I have ever tasted. ...and truthfully, the amazing food and the generosity of a friend, made the trip most memorable.

Fast forward to this year, now I'm a Vegan!  We went out to the coast again this year for an overnighter. We got early check-in and a beautiful ocean view room.  It was pretty stormy out, but that just added to the ambience.  We had scheduled an in-room massage which was wonderful as we could relax and not have to get out in the cold.   The masseuse turned on some eastern chant music, the room was warm and dimly lit, and you could hear a distant howling from the wind outside.   It was so very relaxing and meditative.   This was just what the doctor ordered!   About an hour after our massages, we got a knock on the door and a complimentary bottle of Gloria Ferrer sparkling wine was delivered with a platter of local cheeses.  Fortunately there were also fresh raspberries and strawberries included.  This was great!  John enjoyed the cheeses, I ate the fruit.  All was right with the world as we sipped our champagne, counted our blessings, and gazed out our window watching the waves crash the shore.

That evening we proceeded to go to dinner. It was a short blustery walk with high winds and horizontal rains, but once inside it was warm and inviting.  There was soft string music and a crackling fire in an oversized stone fireplace.   We knew John's friend would not be cooking that night, but unbeknownst to us, he had notified the chef to take care of us. UH Oh!!  This is where it got embarrassing.  When I asked the waiter what he recommended with no dairy, no meat,   He said, 'Jeff did not tell us you were vegans!!’.   I told him my husband is not vegan, and he said, ' Good, because Jeff instructed us to prepare a special complimentary crab cake appetizer'.  UH Oh!!, We then had to inform him that John is allergic to shellfish .  At this point, the waiter darted off to the kitchen to stop the preparations!  We felt so bad.  Normally I would have loved fresh crab and I am still hitting myself that I just didn't make that my 4% non-vegan for the week.  However,  I was a little concerned about introducing such rich food into my system ...I did not want to chance a stomach ache later.  

The waiter returned with a platter filled with a lightly fried array of veggies as a replacement.  It was delicious!  I ordered a lovely organic salad sprinkled with cannellini beans and a wonderful balsamic dressing.   John had a very rich pan seared chicken with savory bread pudding and buttery glaze.      We both partook in the nice warm whole grain bread.  As we enjoyed our meal, I couldn't help but feel bad about the appetizer mix-up.   When we finished the meal, we then had to turn down that marvelous decadent chocolate cake!  As part of our mid-week lodging deal, it would have been free...but we both passed.  (Note: Although John is not vegan, he is trying to cut back on animal protein) Geez, what has become of me?  What was considered such a glorious pleasure last year, became a test of my commitment this year and left me feeling like I missed out on something great.  

The next morning Jeff , the chef, arrived at the lodge and called our room to ask us if he could send over a couple of complimentary Eggs Benedicts.  Oh My Goodness!   My weakness!!...and It's a gift from the chef! ...How could I possibly refuse?... But, again, we politely said no.   STRIKE THREE!  

Do I feel strong?  Do I feel better?   No.  I feel that I missed out in a wonderful experience!  Why didn't I just indulge and get back on track the following day?  What if I did indulge? Would it have upset my digestive system?  How guilty would I have been afterward?  

Why does food become so embedded in our experience and memories?   Is it our powerful olfactory system that holds the memory of those tantalizing aromas and associates them with a previous time in our life?  YES, I believe so.  I need to find new aromas...the salty ocean air, the fresh rolling green pastures, the eucalyptus trees that line the back roads and are especially aromatic in the damp air.  

I need to change my focus!!  What happened to 'Eat to live!' not 'Live to eat'?      Well, other than the food, the trip was a success. I came home feeling healthy, relaxed, and I got to share the getaway with the man I love.  Not too shabby! 

...but I'm obviously still in a transitional phase of this vegan lifestyle.