Today I saw a blind girl counting change.
She had lined all of the coins up neatly on the table, and picked them up one by one, turning them over carefully in her hand. I stood there for a few moments and silently observed. She sat alone, but she seemed content- slowly, blindly, counting change. It is moments like these when I realize that I take life for granted. I walked away humbled and grateful for her, and the perspective she gave me. I realized that I was the blind one.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Moldy Cheese
Since I have been in college, I have noticed a drastic change in my eating habits. Suddenly, my rules about fresh vs. expired, and moldy vs. edible have changed.
It is mid-July, last week I left a turkey and cheese sandwich in a black bag in my car by accident. I am making an educated guess by saying that the temperature in my Toyota reached over 110 degrees that day. On my way home I discovered the sandwich. As I juggled it in my hands like a hot potato, I noticed the cheese had melted and oozed through the bread. “What a waste,” I thought as I looked sadly at the sandwich and salad my Mom had prepared me that morning. Upon my arrival at my apartment, my stomach growled and I thought longingly of the sandwich. I pulled it out again, ready to toss it in the trash, when I stopped. “Maybe I could still salvage this, I am pretty hungry.” I thought about the appropriate hot and cold temperatures for food, I rationalized that surely my sandwich had been kept above the appropriate hot temperature all day. I peeled back the flimsy plastic baggie, squeezed my eyes shut, and took a small, quick and precise bite. I carefully chewed, realizing that it wasn’t half bad. I turned on the toaster oven, threw in the previously chewed sandwich and waited two minutes. Shortly after I enjoyed a delicious toasted melt. The rest of the evening I waited to be sick, but the urge never came. Positive reinforcement. Occasionally I drop food on the floor, stringent rules would say “Throw that away!” Me? Eat it! The only exception in carpet, I’ve had bad experiences with lint and hair, no-go on carpet. Moldy cheese? Cheese is mold! Expired milk is a little tricky, but I am stubborn enough that I won’t see a whole bowl of cereal go to waste even if it is chunky. I think I save more money by eating bad food than fresh food. You never know until you try, but I attribute my incredible health to my bad eating habits.
It is mid-July, last week I left a turkey and cheese sandwich in a black bag in my car by accident. I am making an educated guess by saying that the temperature in my Toyota reached over 110 degrees that day. On my way home I discovered the sandwich. As I juggled it in my hands like a hot potato, I noticed the cheese had melted and oozed through the bread. “What a waste,” I thought as I looked sadly at the sandwich and salad my Mom had prepared me that morning. Upon my arrival at my apartment, my stomach growled and I thought longingly of the sandwich. I pulled it out again, ready to toss it in the trash, when I stopped. “Maybe I could still salvage this, I am pretty hungry.” I thought about the appropriate hot and cold temperatures for food, I rationalized that surely my sandwich had been kept above the appropriate hot temperature all day. I peeled back the flimsy plastic baggie, squeezed my eyes shut, and took a small, quick and precise bite. I carefully chewed, realizing that it wasn’t half bad. I turned on the toaster oven, threw in the previously chewed sandwich and waited two minutes. Shortly after I enjoyed a delicious toasted melt. The rest of the evening I waited to be sick, but the urge never came. Positive reinforcement. Occasionally I drop food on the floor, stringent rules would say “Throw that away!” Me? Eat it! The only exception in carpet, I’ve had bad experiences with lint and hair, no-go on carpet. Moldy cheese? Cheese is mold! Expired milk is a little tricky, but I am stubborn enough that I won’t see a whole bowl of cereal go to waste even if it is chunky. I think I save more money by eating bad food than fresh food. You never know until you try, but I attribute my incredible health to my bad eating habits.
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