Friday Flashback

So I realized that there are many memories that I would love to have included in my blog books that occurred long before I started blogging.  Hence, "Friday Flashback" is born.  Jeff and I will share with you some of our favorite memories on Fridays.

Today's memory is of an eating contest that Jeff and I had back when we were first dating.  Somehow I got it into my head that I could eat equal to or more than what Jeff eats (He still thinks I am crazy for ever thinking this).  I was telling him this for the first time and he was denying it.  Now if you know me, or my family well, you know that we are very competitive people.  I kept insisting that I ate more than he did and that I could, in fact, prove it!

We began to set the terms.  Olive Garden.  Just the two of us.  We'd split our entrees right down the middle.  We had to divvy up the salad and breadsticks equally.  You could prepare for it anyway you'd like.

Day of, I ate a BIG breakfast and then just snacked throughout the day so that I'd be ready for the evening.  Jeff came and picked me up in his white truck and we drove to the restaurant, exchanging loving trash talk all the way.

We sat down at our table and so it began.

"How are you doing so far?"

"Fantastic.  Never been better.  In fact, I might need to order another meal just to get full."

"Oh, really?  Well, I see your breadstick and up you two more."

On and on the banter went.  The waiters were in on it and egged us on.  I was beginning to feel full, but was pretty sure I would let my stomach burst before admitting it.  However, I had to concede defeat when I could barely choke down another mouthful and Jeff stood up in the middle of the restaurant and began doing PUSH-UPS!!  It was hilarious.  I was cracking up and holding my stomach because laughing made it hurt so much.

The end result was pretty impressive though:  Jeff beat me by a measly little half of a breadstick.  (He insists that I tell you that he also beat me by 3 glasses of lemonade, but I'm pretty sure that is beside the point.  It was an EATING contest, after all).


And so a glorious tradition of betting was introduced to our relationship.  Over the subsequent years the bets have been varied, the stakes high, and the winnings pretty desirable, but fortunately, none have ended with a worse stomachache than I had that night.

And Olive Garden, sometimes I drive past you and still feel a little bit sick.