Bigger Than My Stomach

It wouldn't be completely out of line to say that I had a sheltered childhood. Of course, growing up a homeschooler until age 16 can do that to you. The first year of public (or as I like to call it, "real") high school I fascinated/amused many of my peers with my lack of knowledge in various aspects of normal social topics. The first time I tried to open a carton of chocolate milk at lunch during junior year... well let's just say I had to get help. And it wasn't until finals week of my senior year that I saw the classic Disney movie "The Lion King." A fun fact that astounded my Sociology classmates.

The fun didn't stop there. Once I got to college, I met people from other parts of the country I had never been before. In case you're wondering, unless you're from Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, or Kentucky, I've never been to your home state. There were restaurants to visit (Applebee's, who knew?) more Disney movies to watch (I totally didn't see the end of Mulan coming) and swings to swing on. All for the first time.

There's certain chain of events that usually leads up to me trying one of these simple things for the first time. I'll be hanging out with friends, deciding what to do, and someone will suggest something that I've never done before. I'll casually mention that it would be my first time, and then instantly everyone goes into unshelter-Jeremy mode.

"What movie do you want to watch?"
"I don't care."
"Remember the Titans?"
"Never seen it."
"WHAT??? WE ARE SO WATCHING IT RIGHT NOW."

Or something like that.

Another instance like this happened a couple days ago. The target was a local Mexican restaurant that is very popular. Upon admitting I had never been there, guess what became the group's dinner destination.

But at dinner, I was not the one who proved himself to be the biggest noob at the table. After I mispronounced the word "fajita" in the most embarrassing way, that is.

After having to put a large portion of his meal in a to-go box, one person at the table commented that his 'eyes were bigger than his stomach.' One of the other people at the table questioned this phrase, as he had never heard it before.

Everyone at the table forgot about my articulation error. How had a college-aged student never heard such a common phrase?

Segue time.

I think my eyes were bigger than my stomach over the summer, in terms of the workload I took on for the fall. Three jobs and one class which will require me to be a contributor for the TV station. What the heck was I thinking? And that's not even including that I would like to have some resemblance of a life outside of work and school. I know I will greatly enjoy everything I do this semester, but doing it all at once will stretch me to my limits. I guess that's a good thing.

The important thing is to just keep having fun with everything I do. And be sure to make time for the people in my life who are important to me; myself as well. That way, I'll keep my eyes, stomach, and all other important organs their proper sizes.

And I totally knew how to pronounce "fajita."