#A to Z Challenge: B is for Burgers & 3 Lessons I Learned During a Month Without Them (Plus, 3 Random Smartphone Pics)

I told a co-worker that I staged a hunger strike because of her leaving the company.

Most hellish 13 minutes of my life, I announced. This food-related sacrifice plays right into the mindfulness challenge I participated in for March. I softened it to be carnivore-friendly: March was a beef-free month for me.

Jen Schwartz’s challenge was to give up meat completely, like a liberal. I believe in miracles, yes, but also in the universe’s balance. I could no more easily go veg for more than a single bean tostada as an NBA star could expect to play every game on his team’s schedule when he’s healthy.

My own depravity – which challenged in duration the time Jesus spent in the wilderness that one time or the average drought between quality starts for an Arizona Diamondbacks starter – taught me.

3 lessons learned while not eating hamburger

1. I like salad

You heard me. I’ve enjoyed treating salad as 7/8ths of an actual meal. It helps to heap favorite toppings such as hard-boiled eggs, bacon, chicken, cashews, sunflower seeds, croutons and wanton noodles all over the damned thing, with Thousand Island dressing.

2. Talking incessantly about my food choices wasn’t required

The rap on veg-heads is that they LOVE to tell everyone they don’t eat critters. I didn’t encounter that. I could order a breakfast burrito with cheese and egg and not feel the need to lean over to the sales agent next to me and utter, “I’m not eating meat, after all.”

3. My burger crush lessened

I love the idea of bending the trajectory of a burger to my mouth, but it isn’t all I live for. I’ve become a burger snob. Anything from the poor people menu I frequent at fast-food joints can’t hold a flame broiler to something I flame broil myself.

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Challenge for April: April: Send the Love

Send a handwritten letter of gratitude to one person each day during this month. So many people in our lives go without thanks, not knowing the influence that they are having on a day-to-day basis. Plus, who doesn’t love getting mail, right?

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Also 3 random smartphone photos

Another shot from Jacksonville when Grace and I went to see the Broncos. This was so early on, and I loved the wonder. I remember how I felt coming out of the tunnel for my first NFL game. John Elway and Joe Montana started that one, in case you’re wondering.

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Grace and I went to the daddy/daughter dance at her school in February. We clean up okay, don’t we? We danced to every song, it seemed. She stifled my boogie only 11 times, which is far below the average for a dad of my height and earning potential.

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It’s always bittersweet to leave my oldest girl behind in Asheville. This is the view right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. Elise is at home in the mountains, surrounded by friends and seemingly to like her classes. I miss her so much but am glad she’s happy where she is.

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