the Roseville diet

I am a social eater. This is a fact I think I've known for a long time, but has recently really sunk in. Every time I visit Bellflower I seem to head back home having gained at least 5 pounds... no exaggeration. And I can't blame the people I'm visiting - it's all me! For whatever reason, when I want to visit with someone, anyone, there has to be something to chew on or drink. Why? I haven't a clue. At first I thought maybe it's because I do my visiting over mealtimes... but not always so. If it's not a meal time, I'll meet with someone over coffee... a glass of wine... yogurt... something edible. Is it because I need a buffer if I'm out of conversation? Doubtful - I don't think I'm ever out of words. (One of the wonderful things about being a woman.)

Whatever the cause, I know I'm not alone. I think most people have social eating habits.... no one ever turns me down for the opportunity to talk and eat! Probably because both things are wonderful; two of God's greatest gifts: great friends & good eats. And to be honest, it's one of my favorite things to do - so it's not a habit I'm too eager to break. However, if this weight gain pattern continues, I'm going to have to start meeting people over exercise. (I can count on one hand the number of people in my social circle who'd be up for that, by the way. )

What's really sad is that my behavior in this matter affects those I do my social eating with! My sister Lisa informed me as we were enjoying some cupcakes late last night and I was complaining to her about my Bellflower weight gain, that she also gains weight when I'm in town. Apparently I'm an inspiration for indulgence. Great. The good news is I have only one good friend in Roseville, and she has absolutely no sweet tooth and more will power in her pinky than I do in my entire being. No social eating there. This moving thing may just be the baby weight cure I've been looking for.

Well I'm off... going to meet my sister in law for some happy hour at Claim Jumper. =)

"Home"

I always LOVE visiting Bellflower. There are so many familiar faces I get to see - both sides of the family and tons of friends. And it wouldn't be aBellflower trip if there wasn't at least one person from the "dutch mafia" who I had a full conversation with about my family and my life in Sacramento and walked away having no idea who they were. That's one of many things I love about the dutch mafia - everyone knows & cares about everybody's business...particularly the older generation of dutch. It probably doesn't sound so wonderful to someone who is outside of it, but it's so neat to know that hundreds of people in this little no-big-deal city, most likely with the last name prefixed with a "van" or "de" and ending in a "sma," know all about your family history, have grandparents who were lifelong friends of your grandparents, and are praying for you and know all about where you are in life, even though you don't know them at all. I also love that any one of these people can look at you and automatically identify what last name youbelong to.

I was able to have one of these conversations today with some lovely women at the VC elementary campus. I walked in the office doors & they new exactly who I was and who my little Mia was. They asked questions all about both sides of the families..."how are your brother & sister in law doing in Portland? How are all the new babies? I bet your mom is loving it!" Indeed!! Of course, any VC campus is a prime candidate for hosting many of these generational dutchies. Why was I there, you ask? Bringing little Colinator a birthday Burger King lunch, of course! My baby boy nephew is already 7 years old today! I also got the privledge of bringing the birthday girl, my niece miss Kaylie boots, to preschool today with a plate full of pink hello-kitty cupcakes.

Getting to do all of these little things is why I love to visit here. It's funny... Mark &I haven't lived in Bellflower for almost 2 1/2 years already, and God only knows if we'll ever be moving back. But we still refer toBellflower as "home." It's like the Cheers theme song..."Sometimes you wanna go where everybody knows your name..." I imagine Bellflower will always be "home" no matter where we end up.