Have you ever experienced a moment when you thought your brain might explode? Say you’re reading a book, and something on the printed page is so profound, so awe-inspiring, that you feel your brain realigning in that very moment. You know you’ve just run head-first into a game-changer, and that some aspect of yourself (if not your entire world-view) will never be the same.
Lord knows I’ve been lucky enough to read books like that. Sometimes it’s a piece of music that alters my being. Movies, art, people – all are capable of moving us to a new level of existence. Perhaps as children we go through a constant stream of these revelatory moments, as we discover the world around us. I don’t remember enough of that developmental age to say for sure. I do know that as an adult, those little light-bulbs don’t go off as often as I’d like. So I tend to take special note when they do.
Anthony Bourdain is, well, I’m sure he’s a lot of things (ahem). I find him terribly entertaining and through his various shows, I’ve learned more than I can say. I’ve had an episode of his most recent CNN show – “Parts Unknown” – waiting on my DVR for a while now. Mister and I finally got around to watching this past weekend. With its focus on the food of Lyon, France, my expectation was mere entertainment. I did not expect to be gobsmacked.
Almost from the very beginning of the episode, my jaw dropped. Seriously, flies could have nested in there, as I didn’t close my mouth until we’d finished watching the whole show. Yes, the scenery was beautiful. Yes, the city looked inviting. Yes, the countryside was pastoral and serene. But the food… The food! I felt completely overwhelmed by what I saw. I was amazed at the artistry of the professionals creating the food. I was astounded by the lunch-time scene at the elementary school’s cafeteria. I was absolutely enchanted by the food itself.
And I was hungry. I wanted to try all the beautiful food, yes, but I felt something more. I hungered for a world where such exquisite sustenance is the norm (and where its history is revered). Where souls gather to break bread and sing songs while doing so. Where feeding our bodies is important enough to warrant time and care in preparation.
I’m not doing a very good job of explaining how I felt while watching this magnificent show. Honestly, I’m not sure I understand how or why I was so affected by it in the first place. I only know that watching “Parts Unknown – Lyon” was a game-changer for me. That while watching it I felt the fiber of my universe growing and evolving. No, I cannot explain what it means. But precious seeds have been sown. Only time will tell what’s been planted.