More from the Free Food-A-Thon -- click here.

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 After the Medicaid event on the Senate side of the capitol....I went around to all of the “international” food places in Union Station and had my share of samplings. But it was at Aditi India Kitchen that I had the most luck. As I was looking at the menu, Gautaum (the nice man at the register) asked me where I was from in India. I so cutely said, “I’m Guju, from Gujarat!”…he excitedly said, “Oh! Guju! Very good. Your deddy has hotels?”…I laughed and said, “No he doesn’t. But good guess!” I winked and batted my eyes. Then I said, “You know, I don’t really like Gujarati food… I really love Punjabi food, like Naan!”… then exactly what I wanted to happen… happened…..He went to the back of his small kitchen and pulled out a small fresh piece of naan. He gave it to me and said, “For the road” and tilted his head slightly, revealing his sweet smile.

My initial reaction was, “Ew I just flirted with a man to get free food…” but then I thought “Success!” Even though I felt horrible about leading my dear friend Mr. Gautaum on… I got my free piece of delicious naan! Yay!!

Feeling accomplished and extremely full… I trekked back to the Center with three pastries (from the Medicaid briefing) for my favorite judges. On my way out of Union Station, I saw a man with a sign that said, “Hungry and Homeless”… so I gave him a cherry pastry. He looked at me with deep, sad eyes and said, “God Bless You”. I left with a smile. I felt as though I actually had been blessed.

I redeemed myself from feeling horrible about going to an event (Medicaid) just for the food, missing work in search of food and well, generally obsessing about food for most of my morning. The guilt-factor crept up on me and I began to think about people in Sudan inflicted with genocide, mothers that do not have ANY food to feed their hungry children and the millions of people living on welfare. (Sorry to bring in the reality of the situation but I must)…

My experience this morning made me realize something deeper, something beyond the fact that so much food is wasted at these political events…it made me realize that instead of sitting and enjoying our morning pastries, sipping our coffees and listening to political hogwash… we must always remain aware, divinely aware, that some people do not have these luxuries. Be thankful. Be joyous. Do not waste… and if you have some free food or left overs, give it to the homeless.

More from the Free Food-A-Thon -- click here.