The Pizza Story

Some love stories begin in a crowded place -he's walking through a sea of faces, and your eyes meet each other for the first time. Or, he walks into a room, and you just know there's something special about him. Others begin through the means of technology -love at first click (or fiftieth).

My love story begins with a pizza.

And no, this is not one of those stories where food will be personified as my significant other -there is a human involved in this one (although, if you are in a serious relationship with food, please know that you have my sincere blessings and understanding towards the love you harbor for your special one).

This is the tale of how I scored the man of my dreams. This is The Pizza Story.

Love is a strange force that has the tendency to manifest a series of "attention seeking rituals" within us.

Some girls will drape their bodies in unique smells.

Others will paint their faces to grasp the attention of their desired male.

Some may laugh at their jokes in a "louder than average manner" in order to express their romantic interest.

And the remaining may regurgitate various spiritual quotations in order to demonstrate their high sense of self-awareness towards the male specimen in question.

My female instincts pushed me to bet the man of my interest $20 that I could eat an entire large pizza to myself (including the crust) in one sitting.

It was a calm spring night. My friend had invited me over to her boyfriend's house to watch a UFC fight in his basement. Upon our arrival, I greeted the boyfriend and his friend -a visually attractive male whom I had met once before.

A few months prior to this, her boyfriend, alongside the handsome friend, had come to pick us up from a downtown party. It was the first time I had met him. On the ride home, we had decided to make a late night stop at McDonalds. As we all announced our orders to the drive-through speaker, I extended a special request for a packet of honey alongside my "Double Quarter Pounder Meal."

You see, I thoroughly enjoy eating honey with my fries (something about the combination of salty and sweet goodness really hits the spot). This peculiar request seemed to spark the interest of the handsome friend. It was there that the first seed was planted.

We made our way down to the basement. Moments after we sat down to watch the fight, the doorbell rang. The boys exclaimed that they had already ordered a couple of pizzas for us before hand. As my friend and her boyfriend went to retrieve them, I was momentarily left alone with the handsome friend. He spoke to me:

"I've never met anyone who eats their fries with honey." he said.

"You remember that?" I responded in shock.

"Of course! It was a once in a lifetime thing to witness. And the way you devoured that quarter pounder burger -I was impressed."

It appeared that my ability to consume food in grotesque amounts had impressed him. Maintaining my cool stature, I proceeded to speak:

"Yea, I love food. I don't hold back. I order large pizzas and eat them to myself in my free time."

It was not a lie. From time to time, I would treat myself to a whole pizza, just because I wanted to. And I'm not sorry about it either. It seems like in today's society, some women feel they have to explain, justify or apologize for the consumption of "high calorie foods" -or in some cases, any food in general. As humans, we have the God given right to put yummy food in our tummies. No apologies necessary.

Intrigued by my statement, he raised an eyebrow. "I don't believe you. I think you're talking smack. There's no way you can finish a whole pizza on your own. You're lying to me right now.""

"Believe it," I challenged him. "I speak the truth."

As our verbal tennis match proceeded, my friend and her boyfriend returned to the basement with the pizzas in hand.

He looked me in the eyes, "Ok, if you think you're so tough, let's make a bet. $20 says you can't eat one of these large pizzas on your own, crust included."

"Bring it on." I accepted.

On the outside, I appeared confident, collected, and cool.

On the inside, my stomach was screaming: "YOU JUST HAD A FULL DINNER BEFORE YOU GOT HERE! WE CAN'T DO THIS! ABORT! ABORT!"

Now, under any other circumstances, I would never have entertained a challenge such as this one. I mean, I was never the type of girl who felt she had to prove anything to anyone (especially a guy) in order to appear "worthy" or "special." But this guy wasn't like any other guy. This guy was a special guy. This guy gave me butterflies when he spoke. I was certain that it wasn't the feeling of my prior pasta dinner digesting in there either, they were legitimate butterflies fluttering about.

Sometimes you just know. Sometimes, some things, just feel right. And right at that moment, what felt right, was to impress the guy I liked by eating this entire large pizza and attaining his romantic validation along with his $20.  

So, despite my stomach's silent objection towards the plan, my heart and I proceeded to take on the challenge. I reached for my first slice.

"This is nothing for me," I said as I began pecking away at the pizza.

"We'll see." He responded.

Slice after slice, the handsome friend witnessed me consume the massive object. Each time I reached the crust, I would skillfully pause for dramatic effect.

"Slowing down?" He asked.

I looked him in the eye, and, without blinking, devoured the crust whole as he watched it disappear into my mouth in complete awe. He smiled. I felt like the sexiest woman alive.

As I reached the end of the pizza, however, I began feeling defeated. The vacancy in my stomach was slowly running out. Sensing my heavy breathing, he began expressing great concern and sincerely suggested that I stop. But I was too far in to turn back now. I was a woman of my word.

"No, this is nothing for me," I heaved as I smashed the now cold pizza down my throat. And with that, I finished the entire large pizza (crust included).

"Wow, I'm seriously impressed. I really didn't believe you were gonna do it!"

I smiled at him in silence. Mostly because the "itis" was preventing me from forming any sort of comprehensive response. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. I began shaking my head in objection, insisting I couldn't accept his money.

"It's ok," I said, "I'm already a winner."

The handsome friend laughed, "A bet is a bet!" And after his tenth insisting offer, I accepted the $20 bill.

And that's how I scored a free large pizza. And the man of my dreams.

True love begins with honoring and loving yourself. When we do this, a light begins to shine from within. The more you love and honor yourself, the brighter you are shining your unique light into the world, and the easier it becomes for your special one to find you.

Love is the sweetest, selfless and most meaningful force that will ever grace your heart. I am lucky enough to have found a partner in my life who shows me that degree of love every single day. There is no measure I can use to weigh how much I love and care for him back.

In other words -best $20 I ever made in my life.

Have a nice day.

xo Mel