My father didn't allow any liquid at the dinner table when I was growing up. He always said it was because anytime someone spilled something, it would always run into his lap. Being the youngest of six meant I never had the chance to drink with my meals. This habit stayed with me for many long years. I think it also contributed to the fact that to this day I don't drink much.
One meal that shaped my life happened when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Our family had a favorite sub shop. So one night, my parents decided to buy submarine sandwiches for dinner. I remember my mom asking dad if you wanted two foot long sandwiches that night. He responded that he wasn't that hungry. He would simply eat whatever was leftover from MY sandwich. When I heard that, it did NOT sit well with me. By danged if I was going to let my dad eat my dinner! I vowed right then and there to match my speed of eating bite for bit with my dad. If you don't know, my dad was a very large man. He knew how to eat and did a lot of it. This was no small feat for a little girl.
As a side note, our family had a round picnic table with four wooden benches as our kitchen table. Dad made the whole thing for us. It even still had the hole in the middle where the umbrella was supposed to be. I remember the really thick layer of shellac that covered the entire surface. After much use, the shellac had been worn or chipped in some places.
Anyway, the sub sandwiches soon arrived and the family gathered around this picnic table to eat. I watched my dad like a hawk. Every bite he took, so did I. It didn't matter to me how full my mouth got. I kept biting, chewing and swallowing as fast as I could. When he was done, so was I!! I had done it. I got to eat my whole dinner. No one was going to beat me out of food. When my dad looked up and saw that he didn't have the opportunity to eat my left overs, I was mighty proud of myself. And the look on his face is priceless to me.
Ever since that day, I have been a fast eater. I have to consciously slow down to enjoy my meal. Ever since I discovered the link between my fast eating and the sub memory, I have been working on slowing down. But old habits die hard.
One meal that shaped my life happened when I was about 8 or 9 years old. Our family had a favorite sub shop. So one night, my parents decided to buy submarine sandwiches for dinner. I remember my mom asking dad if you wanted two foot long sandwiches that night. He responded that he wasn't that hungry. He would simply eat whatever was leftover from MY sandwich. When I heard that, it did NOT sit well with me. By danged if I was going to let my dad eat my dinner! I vowed right then and there to match my speed of eating bite for bit with my dad. If you don't know, my dad was a very large man. He knew how to eat and did a lot of it. This was no small feat for a little girl.
As a side note, our family had a round picnic table with four wooden benches as our kitchen table. Dad made the whole thing for us. It even still had the hole in the middle where the umbrella was supposed to be. I remember the really thick layer of shellac that covered the entire surface. After much use, the shellac had been worn or chipped in some places.
Anyway, the sub sandwiches soon arrived and the family gathered around this picnic table to eat. I watched my dad like a hawk. Every bite he took, so did I. It didn't matter to me how full my mouth got. I kept biting, chewing and swallowing as fast as I could. When he was done, so was I!! I had done it. I got to eat my whole dinner. No one was going to beat me out of food. When my dad looked up and saw that he didn't have the opportunity to eat my left overs, I was mighty proud of myself. And the look on his face is priceless to me.
Ever since that day, I have been a fast eater. I have to consciously slow down to enjoy my meal. Ever since I discovered the link between my fast eating and the sub memory, I have been working on slowing down. But old habits die hard.