Bodacious Boomer

my kryptonite

Thirty years ago when I was still single, a guy brought over a pricey bottle of wine one night. I took it to the kitchen, opened it and tasted it while he waited on the couch. That wine was so dry my tongue turned to dust. I didn’t have any Sprite to make a wine cooler. So instead, I added a spoonful of sugar and gave it a good stir. Lucky for me the lights were off; the only light came from the candles.  (He never saw the sugar as it settled into the bottom of the wine glass.)

I’ve never liked beer. I don’t do martinis or shots or any drink where you can actually taste the booze. I love Long Island Ice Teas probably because they taste like plain tea. (Of course when you can’t taste the booze it’s easy to drink too many without realizing it.) When I was at the National Hot Air Balloon Championships there was only scotch and beer at the hotel one night. I tried mixing scotch and Dr. Pepper. It’s not a combination I would recommend. (I couldn’t drink it.)

I was reading CNN.com yesterday and saw an interesting article. The title of it was- Like sweet wine? Your choice may reveal your personality. It said that people who choose sweet wines seem to be more impulsive but less open to new experiences. I would agree with the impulsive part. However, I think I’m open to new experiences so I’m not sure I agree with that part of the conclusion. Later in the article it said that “high impulsives” love sweet tastes. If I’m considered an impulsive then I’d have to say that’s true- very true. If I could only have 1 food before going to the chair to ride the lightning it’d be birthday cake from a bakery. (I don’t need my name on the cake or the candles though.)

The article went on to explain that flavors and taste pass into amniotic fluid. What the mom eats while pregnant may play a role in her child’s taste preferences later. My mom loves chocolate. Apparently people who have a history of depression or alcoholism in their family also have a greater preference for sweet tastes than those without such a family history. Between mom’s love of chocolate and all her drinking it’s no wonder I love sweet stuff. (I’m kinda surprised I’ve eaten anything else.)

Finally the article explained that brain neurotransmitters that play a role in drug addiction may also have something to do with a preference for sweets. I’ve never been addicted to drugs, thank God. However, I’m sure that if I could’ve found a way to mainline birthday cake and chocolate over the years I would have. I’m eating healthier now and that giant cake on my back doesn’t control me as much as it used to. I still love birthday cake and still eat it though- just not as often.