After the Feast

I had food poisoning once about 20 years ago. My then husband and I had eaten dinner at a country club in San Antonio at the end of a tournament he had played in. It was the sickest I had ever been. The culprit was beef tips and I've never eaten them since. I have always been a little fearful since then of picnic and holiday food. It never stopped me from eating, but I was very conscious of how I was feeling for several hours after eating. After a late Thanksgiving lunch we settled in to watch one of the dozen Christmas movies I had lined up for the day while we waited for the UT v. A&M game to begin. Seven hours after dinner, the game began. UT never gave A&M a chance and I was already drifting off to sleep as the game ended feeling content to have had some of my family with me for the day and a victory over the Aggies. Less than an hour after falling asleep it happened. Without going into the gruesome details let it suffice to say I was as sick as I have ever been. Unlike the first time though I was running a high fever, had chills and no one else was sick. A few hours into my misery Erin informed me that I was experiencing the exact same symptoms she had experienced last week in Texas. Forty-hours later, the symptoms are gone, but the thought of even looking at leftovers brings on a wave of nausea. In fact, I cannot imagine ever eating any of the holidays foods I love again. It's sad to think that it could happen, but on the other hand, maybe I could get through Christmas and Thanksgiving dinners without gaining weight.

Alivia can have my share.