A grocery bag filled with Home

Today Greg arrived home with a cooler in one hand and a large, heavy grocery bag in the other. I expected the cooler: we had made arrangements for two frozen turkeys to be delivered for our church's Thanksgiving celebration. But the other bag was a question mark. When I asked him what was inside, he grinned. "It's some Thanksgiving treats from Dan," he answered, taking the bag into the kitchen. Dan is a fellow pastor from Marseilles, and he was our source for the turkeys. Apparently, he has access to other American goodies, too, because inside the bag we found all sorts of familiar comfort foods. The girls and I excitedly unpacked the treasures: Pepperidge Farms stuffing mix, canned cranberry sauce, creamed corn, pumpkin pie filling, craisins, brownie mix, and light brown sugar. Best of all (causing actual squeals and jumps for joy), we discovered a package of Nestle's chocolate chips and a batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies!

It's not as if we can't find these things here in France, but A) you often have to pay through the nose for them, and B) they just don't seem to taste the same. Take chocolate chips, for example. Yes, they are available in most grocery stores -- but there must be a slight difference in the recipe, because they just don't have the same flavor. Not a bad flavor by any means, it's just different.

Opening that bag today launched a passionate dialogue about foods we missed from "back home."

Lori: I really miss all the unhealthy foods -- chimichangas, nachos with beef and cheese and beans, the foot long hot dogs from Sonic...
Lindsey: Waffle fries from Chick-fil-A!
Me: I thought you didn't like waffle fries?
Lori: No, that's Dad. We just don't like the ones that still have the skin on them.
Me: What else do you miss?
Lori: BBQ, hushpuppies, oooh, oooh, egg rolls!
Lindsey (loudly): Dunkin donuts! Milkshakes! Oh yeah, frozen yogurt...FRO YO!!!"
Lori: I miss going to get slushies with Taylor.
Lindsey: But you don't even like slushies!
Lori: I know, but it's Taylor.

It seems that food is more than just physical nourishment. Food links us to the places, the people, and the events that are important in our memories and dear to our hearts. I've already written about all the amazing foods that we've enjoyed here in France. And when we leave this place someday, I'm sure we'll have the same nostalgia-filled dialogues about baguettes, pain au chocolat, brie, raclette, chocolate mousse....

I think it's time for a little snack. Where are those chocolate chip cookies?