Many of you know that I have a soft spot in my heart for and a fascination with Julia Child. Some of you may remember the post I wrote in honor of her 100th birthday. Oh, you missed that one? Fear not, katz and keetenz, you can read it HERE.
I came to be captivated by Julia in much the same way as the millions who saw her portrayed by the incomparable Meryl Streep in the recent movie Julie & Julia. But that was more than just a movie to me, thanks to Mr. The Cheeky Diva, and since it involves my birthday, (which happens to be today) and the story is very romantic (It’s also Romantic Monday), I thought today would be the perfect time to tell you this charming little tale I’ve been saving.
A couple of years ago, after the Holidays, my darling husband, who was then my fiance, indulged my girly side by sitting down to watch Julie & Julia with me. The fact that Julie’s husband’s name is Eric was pretty cool. (Since that’s Mr. Cheeky’s name)
We enjoyed the movie very much, and I was enamored with Julia Child and her story. While we were watching it, as my birthday was on the horizon, Eric asked me what I would like for a present. Of course I wanted that book! Mastering The Art Of French Cooking! What a wonderful gift that would be!
The week before my birthday, Eric had to go out of town on business, and of course I was lonely, sad and bored. We would miss yet another Valentine’s Day together. (This year is actually the first time we’ve been able to spend it together) I was ready though, I went to the library, and got a copy of all of Julia’s cookbooks to read and enjoy in his absence. I also discovered at this time that The French Chef episodes are available to watch on Amazon.
Funny thing about Amazon, you can also buy stuff there, and a package arrived for Eric while he was gone. It was somewhat book shaped, but I was good. I didn’t touch it.
He arrived home on my birthday, and I had already made myself a birthday cake, using Julia’s famous Reine De Saba (Queen of Sheba) cake recipe. A delightful Bruschetta (from the movie) was also on the menu. What a nice birthday this was going to be!
After dinner, I opened my gift. Of course, I wasn’t exactly surprised, I had asked for it, right? But what did completely surprise me was the wonderful and romantic note Eric had written inside. I’m going to tell you right now, don’t ever miss an opportunity to make something special happen on one of those blank pages inside a book. That note still makes me melt every time I look at it, and will continue to for the rest of my life.
As a result of an embarrassing and careless mishap, I wasn’t the only one swooning over that note. I returned my books to the library, forgot about Julia for a while, and life went on. About a month after my birthday, I was all set to try one of the awesome recipes in my new cookbook, but it was nowhere to be found!
We live a fairly Spartan existence, and our house isn’t cluttered with shelves of knick knacks and stacks of books. I only have a handful of cookbooks at all, so it was evident that I had somehow scooped up my treasured book with the library books and slipped it in to the bookdrop. Oh the horror!
But, if I had done that, why didn’t they call me? It was returned with a whole stack of Julia Child books. They could have easily deduced who it belonged to, but they didn’t. So was it there? Had an evil librarian taken my wayward book home for her own ill-gotten kitchen enjoyment? I was embarrassed for losing my book and horrified that I’d been so careless.
After groveling with shrieked and tearful apologies to my darling note writer fiance, I called the library to see if my book was there. Much to my red-faced relief, it was. They had been keeping it safe until it’s reckless owner came looking for it. I still don’t understand why they didn’t just look up who’d had all the Julia Child books in recent weeks, but whatever, that’s not important. I live in a city of about 35,000 people, it’s not like there are hundreds of people streaming in and out of that library every day, okay, enough. I’m moving on.
I just live a couple blocks from said library, so I dashed over there as fast as I could to retrieve my lost treasure. I sheepishly told the librarian at the desk that I was the idiot who’d dumped my own book in the book drop, and could I please have it back.
With a raised eyebrow, she asked me what my name was.
“Julie” I said.
“There was an inscription in the book. Can you tell me the name of who wrote it?”
“Eric” ~*sigh*~ Really? How many cookbooks with love notes are you hording here! Come on lady, just gimme my book already!
“And the date the note was written?”
“February 18th, 2011” Are you kidding me?
“Good enough” she said and went to the secret librarian closet of doom or whatever, and came back with my book clutched tightly to her chest.
A wave of relief again washed over me as I saw her with it. She was holding it pretty snugly and for a minute I didn’t think she was going to give it to me.
“You know, that ‘s a pretty sweet note in there. All the girls were swooning. We couldn’t wait to find out who this book belonged to. We hoped you’d be back for it soon. In fact, one of the girls had to open it up and read it every time she passed through the office, and it always gave her a warm fuzzy feeling.”
“Yes, it’s a very sweet note. He’s a very sweet man.” I said, all the while thinking “Jeez! you read my note, with my NAME on it. How many people named Julie checked out these books lately? I would have come back sooner if you would have called me!!!”
“You’re a very lucky girl.”
“Yes, I am.”
I’d like to one day write a note to my wife that will make librarians swoon. Guess that should be my goal for the upcoming year.
Well, that would be lovely, but I hope your wife isn’t quite as absent minded as I am. 🙂
Most of her books are ebooks these days, so no worries there
Kinda hard to write a note in an ebook, but I give you points for trying. 😉
Enjoyed your post, when do we learn what the love note said? Thanks for the pingback on “Bootylicious Bouillabaisse” I’m claudiajustsaying, but that’s not my profile pic…just saying
Well, basically it said mushy junk like how much he loves me, what a great cook I am and how he can’t wait to try creations from the book…and that he’s glad I’m not over 6 feet tall. 😉
Librarians Love Cool Eric! That was a great story!
Thanks! I’ve been waiting for months to tell that one. Thanks to you, I found just the right time and place. 🙂
Cheeky…There would never have been a wrong time or place for that story…
Well. probably not, but my Romantic Monday birthday seems like the perfect place.
True!
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Ah . . . romance lives.
At my house? Always. 🙂
So glad you got your book back. That’s a great story. Happy Birthday!!! 🙂
Thanks so much! It is a fun story.
mmmmm… romance and cooking and books… the trifecta of love…
Ha ha! I guess so.
No guessing… I just told you…
Ahem….yes you did.
Awesome story!!!
Thanks! All my stories make him look like Prince Charming and make me look like an idiot….wait, that’s pretty much how it really is. 😉
Amazing story!! He sounds like quite the catch. I wanna swoon over his note too!! Perfect timing, it being Romantic Monday and all. I LOVE Meryl Streep, and after seeing Julie & Julia I want that cookbook, too!
He IS!!! Always keeps me guessing. Don’t know if he’s going to sweep me off my feet or make me laugh my butt off. A sweet note in a book or a card is kind of a new tradition for us. I know, we’re total dorks. 🙂
I think it’s adorable. I got 2 cards for V-Day, one funny and one romantic, and I was ecstatic. 🙂
That’s so cute! Are you and Joe married? I can’t remember, sorry.
Engaged 🙂
Sounds like someone had-note-in-front-of-book envy! I’m so glad you got your treasure back. I am always amazed finding second hand books with beautiful inscriptions. I think – why are you here and how did you get away from your owner? Great story.
BTW, I’m little late but Happy Birthday! Love this little story!
Such a lovely story! It could easily be a movie with a romantic love story 😀
Gotta love your hubby!
He’s terribly lovable!
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