It's another day in my veggie paradise (or as near to paradise as I have so far found) and my entire family seems in a tizzy about the upcoming weeding this weekend. There seem to be a number of weddings this weekend, involving both family and friends. To top off the excitement I am in the wedding party of the cousin's wedding that is this Saturday and I am the only known vegetarian. The wedding food wasn't much of an issue (I was told), but the real "excitement" came when I asked my aunt about the menu for the rehearsal dinner (a mixture of simple curiousity and thought process about bringing something for me). As she went through the menu she started to come to the realization that there wasn't really anything for me... once again the token vegetarian as this family event. She was planning on calling the restaurant who is doing the catering for the rehearsal dinner and have something ordered for me. I hate adding extra work to people when it comes to stuff like that and I try to not only be especially appreciative when they do make special plans for me, but also to be willing to adjust as needed without giving up my ideals. (Much of the wedding dinner is being made by family members and my mom is making seperate pasta salad for me, minus the pepperoni she put in the pepperoni she put in the rest.)

In other news I ran across some interesting news on Oprah. If you get a chance check out her 21 day Cleanse blog and about how she's doing vegan. http://www2.oprah.com/foodhome/food/cleanse/blog/blog_main.jhtml

"The fact that man knows right from wrong proves his intellectual superiority to the other creatures; but the fact that he can do wrong proves his moral inferiority to any creatures that cannot." ~Mark Twain, What Is Man, 1906

Bridal shower buffet and the token vegetarian

Today we had a bridal shower, not mine for heaven's sake, but for my cousin-in-law to-be (did I mention that I am in the wedding?). this is the third one of my first cousins to marry (i have a lot of them) and the third one of them that I have been a part of the bridal shower. instead of doing the fooof ourselves (which we usually do, including the fondue one we had for my one cousin), we decided to go to a nice local restaurant that serves a nice all day brunch buffet. Real linens (thanks heavens, I hate the pastic covered table crap), castle-like setting, and nice quality food. my family can be rather picky when it comes to food, we are all pretty good cooks and therefore expect more. for me, being the 'token vegetarian' it wasn't bad, but, as always it could have been better. There just usually do not seem enough choices. We took deserts with us...a cake, a couple trifles, chocolate dipped strawberries, fun and yummy stuff that seemed fitting for a bride-to-be. It's nice when friends and family can get together over food, sharing and celebrating without argument or battles.

Token Vegetarian

I am a vegetarian which to me means I refrain from eating things that include flesh, blood, or bone. This include meat, meat broths, and gelatin among other things. I am happy to be a vegetarian and content with the lifestyle that I have chosen (or lifestyle that chose me), however I do know that not everyone appreciates it for what it is or for what it is to me. It can be difficult at times when you feel so isolated. My family eats meat, the majority of my friends eat meat... and then there is me, the token vegetarian. I live in a world where my eating habits are considered strange and often times odd. If it weren't clear enough all I have to do is turn on the tv and be bombarded with commercials or tv shows serving cooked flesh. I know it is unreasonable to to feel more a part of the community as a whole, when the higher percentage is not vegetarian or vegan, but sometimes it would be nice to feel a bit more connected. Sometimes it would be nice not to feel so isolated from other vegetarians.

I know there are more out there like me, living a vegetarian lifestyle in a non-veg friendly world. I hope you are each finding your way the best way possible and enjoying the fruits of the lifestyle that is a pert of who we are.

As attributed to Bernie Wilke, in Joanne Stepaniak, 'The Vegan Sourcebook,' 1998: "I've found without question that the best way to lead others to a more plant-based diet is by example - to lead with your fork, not your mouth."