The Beginning Steps of Growing Up

Sitting in the shade on a beautiful day in Millennium Park this past week, my friend Kim and I shared a conversation about life and plans, hopes and dreams. Maybe not shared as much as me chatting endlessly into her charismatic ears, only pausing for brief moments to take in life-continuing necessary air. When the dust had settled on all the random thoughts I had, she calmly smiled and stated the obvious....”you gotta grow up sometime.”

She was right. I started today. I am now the proud owner of Le Creuset Cookware.

Le Creuset enamel cast iron cookware was created in Northern France in 1925 and has become the ultimate in chefdom worldwide. Because it’s cast iron, it has excellent heat distribution and retention, so it cooks food slowly and evenly under low heat, allowing the true flavor of the food, and all it’s spices, juices and various combinations achieve their ultimate amazing yummyness.

If a microwaved Lean Cuisine meal is like being awkwardly hit on in a dive bar by a 50-something unemployed loser who still lives in his parent’s basement, a meal cooked in Le Creuset cookware is like being taken on a motorcycle ride through Italy by George Clooney only to be delivered to his candlelit villa and into the lovingly open arms of Ryan Reynolds, Bradley Cooper and David Beckham.

This cookware symbolized refinement. The nemesis of youthful selfishness and quick riskful life choices. Le Creuset is a Fred Astaire dance. Elegant and wise. The greatest parts of adulthood. I was ready.

Like all Le Creuset cast-iron products, it is hand-cast in a one-of-a-kind sand mold and hand-finished at the Le Creuset factory in France - and it’s available in a variety of gorgeous colors. Each piece has a 101 year warranty. It’s the kind of thing family members hand down through generations of future chefs, also longing to grow up and grow beyond the basics of cooking. Because Le Creuset cookware is indeed the most awesome thing you’ll ever have in your kitchen, they are expensive as hell. One piece usually runs about $200 - $250 bucks. But I was experiencing a life trifecta: #1 - My husband Eric was not getting my subtle hints to help me with household chores, thus adding extra burden to my own daily workload. #2 - I had a “Preferred Member 35% OFF” coupon good between June 25th - July 4th. And finally, ultimately, #3 - My birthday was coming up.

Today was my day. I’ve been planning this for the last month. Today was the only day on the coupon that I was free to make the journey an hour out of Chicago to Aurora, IL. I was focused. Nothing else mattered. I dropped Eric off at church, (purposely knowing that God was on my side in this adventure and most likely with me in the car than within the four walls of our traditional Sunday meeting place), and powered my way down the highway through the down pouring thunderstorm to the Aurora Outlet Mall.

Parking in a prime location across from the Le Creuset store, I savored the visit, slowly making my way through the entire outlet, knowing full well where I really wanted to go, but not wanting the experience to end. The ultimate consumer foreplay, I strolled through a maze of shops, half-heartedly trying on sandals that only somewhat pleased me, taking in the smells of various unhealthy foods but never purchasing, and glancing into windows with the fake promise of returning to explore further.

Then finally, the Le Creuset store. An amazing spectrum of color and culinary knowledge. A shrine to the french chefs of the past and the enthusiastic hopes for my cooking future. Donning black aprons of pure french/dutch oven genius, the sales people where incredibly friendly and lovingly encouraging. They were the biggest supporters of my journey to adulthood. I could not fail.

Forty minutes later, I walked toward my car with a 5-quart Braiser (in Dijon Yellow) a 4.25-quart french round (in Caribbean Blue) and a 6.75-quart french oval (in Cherry Red) Julie, Julia & now Leslie. Delighted in my achievement, empowered by my growth, and excited for the future Leslie, the girl who is now a cultured woman. Would home-ownership, motherhood and a strong understanding of financial investing be just around the corner?

Packing my prizes into the trunk, one part of the life trifecta still frustrated me. The inevitable bi-monthly chat I again must have with my beloved husband Eric over needing him to help more with household chores. Grrr.

Then, last part of my life trifecta would ultimately exonerate and save me. My birthday was coming up. Shutting the trunk of my car and taking in a relaxing deep breath of 95% summer humidity, I walked into the COACH store and bought myself a purse. An expensive one.

Happy Birthday to me. I’ll grow up more later.