…women who are pro-life, I mean. Read about the Ottawa-based Lea Singh here.
Now I happen to know Lea–we have the Czech Connection in common (and that’s not very common: Who else can I go to for a “palacinky” recipe, if my mama is not around?) plus a devotion to Life-Related Things. From time to time I hear her call into Ottawa talk radio to make the point I’m thinking. (Thanks, Lea.) She’s an all-round great girl, and this is a nice portrait of her, and her very empowering choices. (Man oh man, she gave up quite a salary. I on the other hand entered into this fray with a very high-quality hybrid bicycle.)
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Brigitte was about to ask: What the heck are/is palacinky? But instead she used her amazing Googling skills and came up with this picture. Horrible! Chocolate on crepes, with whipped cream, too?
Ew! Czech chocolate!
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Andrea adds: “Brigitte Pellerin”–nope, don’t see it. Just checking my invitation list for the massive Czech fiesta I’m planning–replete with good food, Czech beer and all those who can appreciate the finer things in life, like palacinky. (I trust that was sarcastic. Brigitte is after all the woman who asks for Extra Whipping Cream on her Starbucks, when we go for coffee.)
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Brigitte smartens up real quick: Palacinky, you say? (And exactly how you say it I know not…) Sounds delicious! Lovely! Especially the whipped cream on top!
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Andrea as Czech teacher: PA-LA-CHINK-A (one), PA-LA-CHINKY (Two or more).
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Véronique says: Feeling bad — not really — for going back on topic when off topic involves yummies.
I don’t want to sound like misery loves company but I love reading about lawyers who long for something more and give up all the bells and whistles in favour of a (presumably) simpler, more meaningful life.
I never felt like I had a choice in the work-life balance. I got pregnant young and it always seemed obvious to me that my loyalties should lie with my children as opposed to my employer. But I had a choice and I would be lying if I pretended not to wonder whether the life I didn’t choose wouldn’t be nicer. Nicer as in: “if I had more money I could buy a new pair of designer boots instead of wearing the old boots my daughter grew out of this year (yes, I wear hand-me-downs from my children. You know you’re not getting younger when…).”
The thing is that there isn’t that many role models for people making counter-cultural career choices. Like having a half-dozen children or working for a Catholic organization. But the good news is that I am always inspired by people who make the tough choices. And I feel thankful every time somebody makes me feel normal for choosing life and family over money and prestige (assuming I would have had either as a legal animal, which is not a given).
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OK girls, at this point I was expecting a recipe, but that was not what the whole story was about. Was it?
It makes me happy to see Czech power in Ottawa all for life.
In the country of origin it is sadly missing, unfortunately.
Can someone from Quebec really make fun of another region’s cuisine? In my mind, once you put cheese and gravy on french fries, you give up all ability to mock other cuisine.
Remember Brigitte, my family hails from a place known for haggis and deep fried Mars Bars.
OK, I’m sure my spelling is way off, but here’s one of the very few sentences of Czech I know:
Prosim, tjel bich stiri cokoladove bananove palacinky.
Knowing how to say this sort of thing is absolutely vital. Much more useful than “Can you direct me to the town hall?” or “Help!”
That’s the spelling I would use. Let me translate this important sentence for our readers: “Please, I would like four chocolate-banana pancakes.” Those with Czech (slavic?) family will also be familiar with this phrase, “Ja ne mam hlat”–I am not hungry.
Cokoladove is the word I’ll remember…