Leaping Into Action

Every year we go to my cousin’s house for Thanksgiving. Although we eat the traditional foods, the dishes are quite complicated, made from recipes my cousin prints from the New York Times. Typically, there is something fancy, and definitely not abstinent, added to each dish. Even her salads are complicated, containing a mixture of toppings and a dousing of sugar-laden dressing.

This year, I volunteered to bring a salad so at the very least, I would be able to eat what I brought. As I put the salad on the counter, she looked at my simple bowl of vegetables and said, “Would you like to add some of these toppings? I have extra.” She reached over to add the toppings, and before I could even think, I leapt in front of the salad, protectively shielding the bowl with my body. Realizing what that must have looked like, I backed up a few steps, smiled, and said cheerfully, “No, thanks!” as I moved the salad safely to the buffet table.

It was a close call, but I managed to keep the salad abstinent, despite the best efforts of my cousin and her New York Times subscription.