When I first moved to western Massachusetts, a new acquaintance invited my husband and me to dinner with a couple she wanted us to meet. She said we had a lot in common with them because of the “food thing.” I wasn’t entirely surprised to learn that this meant that one half of the couple avoids GMOs and gluten and is interested in juice fasting. She ordered chicken meat for dinner, so we clearly didn’t have a lot in common over the “food thing.”

Still, we bonded over a shared appreciation for classic rock music, and I enjoyed talking with her. We were not destined for friendship with this couple, though. That became abundantly clear towards the end of the evening (thankfully towards the end!) when we learned that the other half of the couple had recently returned from hunting big game in Africa. It didn’t occur to the acquaintance who organized our dinner that vegans don’t generally seek out the company of people whose avocation is hunting lions and elephants.

It wasn’t at all her fault. I’m a ... Read More >