9/15 Are You The Vegan People?
One of our most beloved treats is to go to Biggby which is our local coffee house and get lattes. They make the most fantastic drinks with soy. You could say they are soy magicians. They just recently opened a new one, even closer to our house (hard to believe our good fortune). The first week they were open they were passing out free drink coupons. Mysteriously, I always happened to be right there, on the receiving end of said coupon.
One day I had the opportunity to give back by sharing my knowledge of all things soy milk with the owner and one of the friendly baristas. Because they were using sweetened vanilla soy milk, it was altering the flavor of the finished product and making it much sweeter than the original milk recipe…problem solved.
The incredibly jovial employee that had been creating our soy lattes asked, “Are you allergic to dairy?” And I said, “No, we are vegan.” She said in the most astonished way…”That is so cool! I have never met anyone vegan.” It felt so magical because it was the first time it had rolled off my tongue like I was telling her that I was a woman…well of course I’m vegan.
So we left feeling totally pumped up like astronauts or super heroes. I told her about Exploits and encouraged her to join the conversation.
So the next time we go in and are waiting at the end of the counter for our drinks, the same exuberant young woman asks, “Are you the vegan people?” Sandy and I burst out laughing, never having been referred to as the vegan people before. She was asking because she was interested in Exploits and had forgotten the address. It was so wonderful because it felt like evidence that we really are affecting change, one meal, one person at a time. Sustainable change starts with one person and continues to build like a snowball rolling downhill. We do vote with our wallets and the choices we make while we are out dining and consuming make a difference.
And yes, as a matter of fact, we are now the vegan people, and I truly thank you for asking. Accidental activism in our happy place. Serendipitous.
Random question.
Why doesn’t spell check recognize the word vegan? It keeps trying to change it to Vegas. I would have never known this until now. So odd. Or is that What are the odds?
Have a delicious day and enjoy a soy latte.
Tags: Biggby, Biggby coffee, compassionate consumer, compassionate eating, compassionate living, dairy free, going veg, soy latte, soy milk, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan experience, vegan wannabe
