The Week in Review: Graduation & Gluten

Mr. Munger is now the proud owner of a BA.  He’s been out of the area for the past two years, so I haven’t even begun to fully adjust to the idea that he won’t have to head back up north once 2013 rolls around (this also means we’re one step closer to being able to finally nail down a date).

My immediate family and I all spent last weekend in Bellingham in order to be there for Mr. Munger’s graduation.  The graduation ceremony itself was the usual mix of extremely exciting and extremely boring.  We also had fun looking at Christmas lights and doing a little last-minute shopping. 

But the most complicated and painful aspect of the trip involved, of course, food.

I hadn’t really gone out to eat since I learned about my 10 newest food allergies a couple months back, so going to Anthony’s Homeport in Bellingham, even though we’d previously had good luck with the place, was a little worrisome.  I brought an index card listing all of my major food allergies (soy, eggs, dairy, shellfish, tomatoes), ordered off the gluten-free menu, and stressed the importance of my food being safe to the waitress.  Everything seemed fine.  But later that night the unmistakable, makes–me-feel-like-I’m-going–to-end-up-doubled-up stomach pain kicked in.  Glutened again.

I’d been feeling kind of blue the last couple of weeks about the fact that going out to eating (whether at restaurants or even a friend’s house) really isn’t an options; my list of food foes is too long and the risk is too great.  The funny thing is that even though my latest glutening dashed my dreams of eating out, I also don’t feel like I’m missing out anymore.  Sure, I’d love to go out to a nice restaurant during the holidays but one evening out is not worth the stomach pain (that, at the moment, has been going strong for a solid week and a half).          

Guess this means that my New Year’s goal of learning to cook more recipes (hopefully trying a new one or modified version every week) is now even more important.  And, since Mr. Munger is back in the area again, I have another person to take me grocery shopping (grocery stores are dangerous due to peanuts so I have to take someone with me) and someone to help remind me of all the good tasting food that I can still eat.