Last week I flew down to Phoenix and experienced my first vacation as a vegetarian. Everyplace we went had great menu items for me to choose from. The highlight was lunch at a charming home-turned-restaurant, seated in a lush and shady garden patio (a strangely beautiful byproduct of reckless water consumption). My mouth watered over a gourmet sandwich - eggplant, spinach, dried tomato, and cheese. I had never had eggplant before.
Discussing the trials and tribulations of being vegetarian (or lack thereof) seemed inspirational to a particular friend (one who shall remain nameless). This individual kept bringing up my vegetarianism, asking questions ripe with a curiosity only afforded to those genuinely weighing such a decision themselves. On our last day he confided his confidence in being able to make the switch, citing the duty he would be doing mother earth, his body, and countless creatures. I would like to think I helped sway him.
A particularly interesting finding in Phoenix: my choice not to drink alcohol makes people severely uncomfortable. Explaining my decision to give it up for thirty days triggered an unrelenting barrage of pressure, insults, and arguments. These were my friends, and I love them. I can deal with it. But even the fucking bartender gave me shit. He told me he would find the hottest girl in the bar and see to it that she buys me a drink. I felt like playing the Alcoholics Anonymous or religious card would have been easier, but I can’t stand on lies, only on determination. I explained that I was enjoying the Latin band and the company. They explained that I could also be enjoying it with a beer. I didn’t budge, and eventually they accepted (or gave up). The experience brought up a good question though: Is abstaining from alcohol possible without significant social change or strife? I don’t have an answer yet.
(It’s worth noting that unlike alcohol, people have been very accepting and supportive of my choice to abstain from meat.)
