Well, it's Ash Wednesday. Or, as I like to call it, "The Day After Fat Tuesday."

Actually, I completely missed Fat Tuesday this year. Forgot about it. I usually am a little jazzed about it (no pun intended) because of my bizarre obsession with Cajun culture, but it just slipped my mind this year. I didn't even realize what day it was until I saw the smudge on the forehead of the girl who sits next to me in English.

As I'm sure you've guessed by now, I don't really observe Lent. Every year (with the exception of this year), someone invariably asks me what I'm giving up. I usually look them straight in the eye and say with great effort, "I think I'm going to give up meat." "Oh, no," they say, "That's going to be so hard." And then I say, "Yes, but I really want to do it. And, in fact, I think I'll give up dairy and eggs, too. And leather, while I'm at it. God will give me the strength."

So, although I consider Lent difficult and pointless, I will be observing something slightly more difficult and equally pointless this year. You guessed it: Passover. I decided to keep my bestest Jewish friend, Ethan, company during his week of pennance by adding leavened bread and corn syrup to my already fairly long do-not-eat list. If nothing else, it will be an excercise in understanding other cultures.

posted at 9:53 PM by Alison

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