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Dating
The scene: Local health food store
The target: The hot produce stock guy
Racing through my head: "Maybe he's vegetarian," and
"Do I really want him, or is it his arugula I'm after?"
Maybe my datelessness is getting to
me. I've never dated -- vegan or not. Well, I take that
back. There was one guy in eighth grade. We shared cheese
pizza and a movie. Somehow I doubt he would have believed
me if I told him that a pizza covered in fresh tomato
sauce, artichoke hearts, olives, spinach, and mushrooms
actually tasted good. Not to mention that it would have
been a little bit difficult to procure such a tasty
item with only his skateboard for transit and only pizza
places with unacceptable crusts nearby.
Vegan or not, it's difficult to find
an appropriate dating partner. Shyness intercedes. Insecurities
sneak up. And I wonder if I could ever find someone
who could tolerate (and appreciate) all of my personality
quirks. Then there's the veganism. Would he understand?
I couldn't date someone who didn't understand.
My eyes wander as I carry my tray around
the dining hall. "No meat on that plate. Could he be
vegetarian or even vegan?," I wonder. But, alas, even
if he were I probably wouldn't dare approach. I've met
a few vegan guys -- friendly, but not real dating prospects.
They were either taken or had other interests far too
divergent from mine. However, I must admit I don't try
very hard. I must also admit that vegan and vegetarian
guys are few and far between. There may be a nice one
out there waiting for me -- but, then, he's probably
as timid as I am in playing this whole "dating game."
Tonight, as I chopped some red-leaf
kale into slender ribbons, my mind began to wander again.
"Wouldn't it be romantic if a guy gave me a bundle of
kale instead of flowers," I thought. It would be as
if he were saying, "I understand you. I care about you.
I want you to be healthy." After all, fresh red-leaf
kale is beautiful to behold. Sure, I'd accept and appreciate
any flower (as long as it's not silk), and I think I
might even prefer wildflowers over kale, but it's an
interesting prospect all the same.
Veganism isn't only about food, but
food plays a big role in social interactions. The first
date might involve a meal. It would be so much easier
if I didn't have to explain my beliefs and answer questions
about matters that a vegan or vegetarian guy would already
understand. We could skip right to learning about each
other -- veganism being a representative part, but just
a part, of the whole.
For now I think I'll stick to curling
up with a good book in the middle of the campus arboretum
or under a tree. When I come home, I'll fix a nice meal
for myself. I'll breathe in the aroma of my tasty vegan
meal, listen to the birds chirping, and think about
many connections -- humans and the earth, nonhuman animals
and humans, plants and animals, the earth and everything
that calls it home. After all, it wouldn't be very vegan
to worry myself sick about the whole dating issue. So,
I don't. Of course, there still are those hot produce
stock guys at the health food store!
Kim H.
North Carolina
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