The Battle of the Bulge…
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One of the great battles of World War II, this offensive was really a series of battles that took place in and around what’s known today as St. Vith, Belgium. How do I know this? For one thing, it’s one setting I use in my new entry into the “Detectives Chen and Castilblanco Series” titled Aristocrats and Asssassins. Detective Castilblanco jokes about his waistline being also “the Battle of the Bulge,” and that’s really the topic of this post. I too have used this metaphor when referring to my over-indulging—many do, perhaps without realizing the origin.
Most people in the U.S. belong to one of two extreme groups: overeaters and undereaters. The group they’re in varies from day to day and meal to meal, of course. The second is especially concerning when it’s caused by poverty—too many children are hungry in this country relative to those in other industrialized nations, for example. It’s also concerning when it’s brought on by eating disorders related to psychological problems, especially when those problems can be traced to a lack of concern for mental health in our healthcare plans. But many of us are overeaters, especially around Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the days surrounding those holidays. I’m in that category.
Even if I’m snacking on leftovers (generally an economically sound policy if the overs aren’t left around so long that they start having white or green fuzz on them), the type of leftovers might imply that I’m just prolonging the abuse to my body—leftover desserts, leftover candy, leftover eggnog, etc. I have to demolish them before they turn bad, right? Well, no. Leftovers, unless already frozen once, can be frozen and hauled out to use in or complement a meal many weeks later. And too many of those special treats are just empty calories.
I suppose I shouldn’t worry about gorging for a few days if the rest of the time I eat smart. But that’s the problem. We generally agree it’s better to eat smart and often preach to other people about doing it, but we then end up succumbing to temptation and not practicing what we preach. And then we feel guilty about it. That’s the Battle of the Bulge that often takes place in many American households.
For many of us it’s a never-ending battle. Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins. Depending on how serious it’s taken in the afterlife, I’m either damned or bound for Purgatory (I can’t remember where Dante placed the gluttons). That assumes I believe in that Catholic model of the afterlife. I don’t. Like my character Castilblanco, I have Buddhist tendencies. Zen Buddhism and modern physics have a lot in common. Although I’m now a full-time writer, I can’t deny my working past as a practicing physicist. Numerous books have been written on the apparent nexus between the two.
I’ve also been toying around with Zen ideas since I discovered Alan Watts’ The Way of Zen. If you believe the iconic figures of Buddha, though, you’ll conclude that he also fought the Battle of the Bulge. My failure at becoming a Zen master was caused by the same Battle—I can’t get into a lotus position. (For people like me, don’t let that discourage you—you can meditate sitting on an ordinary chair.) Castilblanco’s going about his conversion to Zen the right way. He’s learning from a true master right here in NYC. See Teeter-Totter between Lust and Murder.
In my novel Soldiers of God, you’ll find the underlying theme of spiritualism v. fundamentalism. For the food scene, the spiritual side is to taste the variety of exquisite dishes different human cultures have created. The fundamentalist side goes hand in hand with gluttony—I eat three helpings of turkey stuffing because I love the stuff. While the Battle of the Bulge is waged at both extremes, the latter is more dangerous—it tends to pack on the pounds very fast. And for many of us, stress often leads to culinary exuberance—another problem I have.
There are certain quasi-religious mantras associated with the Battle of the Bulge. My parents suffered through the Depression and later the shortages associated with World War II. “Eat everything on your plate” was a standard mantra, often followed by the “reason”: “It’s a sin to throw food away because there are people starving in the world.” The corollary-mantra was “Put on your plate only what you can eat.” For my brother and I, growing up in one of the richest agricultural counties in the U.S., with emphasis on the growing, these mantras became a challenge that led to the Battle of the Bulge. The trick was to fill your plate to overflowing and eat every morsel of food on it. That way we could please Mom and Dad and remain free of sin, according to the mantras.
I’d guess that other Baby Boomers made up for their parents’ lean years during the Depression and shortages in World War II by eating well—maybe too well. It’s become an American tradition, albeit an unhealthy one, whether backed by religious and holiday festivities or not. We have a culture of excess in many things, and food is part of that for many. My New Year’s resolution is to do battle with the bulge, at least until the next holidays and the next bowl- and platefuls of goodies left behind. Those leftovers are really good!
Happy New Year!
