Monday, March 10, 2008

Eat, Drink, and Be Awkward

As a certified "picky eater" I laughed out loud several times while reading this post on This Recording blog because I could relate to it so well.
Over the years I've overcome my fear of dogs and germs, but trying new foods always leaves me squeamish. It's completely embarrassing. For some reason people like to take issue with it as well, which always makes me feel much worse. I remember an Easter dinner when I was five or six when my teenage cousins were visiting. Everyone's plates were loaded with green beans, juicy slices of ham, and mashed potatoes. Mine held a tortilla with peanut butter. After saying grace, someone mentioned "all this good food" and I echoed "yes, it is good." "Oh, you're not even having any of it!" my older cousin snapped. I slouched down in my chair in humiliation, tears running down my burning face.

While it's one of the traits I've striven hardest to change, over the years I've accumulated a long list of immature ways to avoid awkward situations. These days I add several new foods a year - usually through pressure from boys (my ex-boyfriend made me try curry, which I ended up loving). Bananas and tuna fish sandwiches, here I come!