The Id, the Ego and the Superego; Freud RevisitedA Gastronomic Point of View

By Camille Alaimo

        The three characters alternated roles depending on the day and circumstance.  Sometimes they functioned independently, with intent and clarity, and sometimes one predominated over the others.  Sometimes they danced in harmony.  At other times, one took center stage, each one contributing her special brand to the trio.  So it was that Super Ms. Piggy, the little girl and the woman were inextricably linked.  They live in the same place.  Whatsmore, they live within eachother, each vying for the upper hand.        They are prone to drinking coffee.  Super Ms. Piggy’s preference towards the decadant, usually resulted in a pumpkin-spiced latte, accompanied by a side order of crème brulee or a chocolate cheesecake with extra whipped cream.  The girl, upon Super Ms. Piggy’s insistence, had also acquired a taste for the delectable, which was why at times, she splurged for double cappuccino.  She had been drinking coffee since she was three and was quite resilient to its mood-altering properties.  The woman prudently opted for the medium-roast Columbian with whole milk, no sugar, no creamer.  The three forever participated in this game of immediate gratification over long term gain.   All three agreed, however, that athmosphere is of utmost importance.  Coffee was best drunk at a café decorated with orange walls covered with sunflowers and noveau art, a diffusion of serene watercolors and subtle lines of black india ink with randomly scattered script.  All of this, the café ritual, was a distraction from the real work, the serious work of developing a life of true interiority and making sense of an outer reality; unmanageable hair, the economic crisis and the rigors creating a satisfying job situation.Super Ms. Piggy was, like all porcines, compelled by instinct; primarily, protecting the little girl from the world, but mostly protecting the girl from herself, which was why, if unhampered,  she would alternate between indulging in kettle cooked potato chips and chocolate brownie sundaes densely packed with extraneous toppings.   The girl was drawn to Ms. Piggy’s impeccable outer appearance: her pearls, her colorful hats and and patent leather heels.  In her boldest moments, Ms. Piggy wore a red cape with a big S on her chest, or a tutu.  Ms. Piggy was also an aficionado of the home shopping network.        The girl operated out of need, mostly the need for attention.  The need to be heard, the need not to be misunderstood, the need to dance and to color with all 48 crayolas in the box with “burnt sienna” and the built-in sharpener.           Super Ms. Piggy gave in to the girl’s constant demand for attention in the form of every kind of indulgence.  Buy red lipstick!  Eat pie! Wear spandex!  Dance Flamenco!  Smoke cigars!  Flirt!