But as I read somewhere…

“I am going on a juice cleanse” is the same as “I am trying to learn how to code”.

Granted, I am opinionated about this, because I believe that life should be directed by one’s interests and not others’ interests. I know that I strive for authenticity and self-awareness. I considered blasting this opinion on Twitter and Facebook. But I am afraid of offending the friends who may be trapped in the “phoniness”. How am I to judge a lifestyle that they chose? I still love them for who they are, but cringe horribly inside when I hear…”juice cleanse” and “detox”. I swear if I hear the word “detox” again…

But I say all this only because the above has been amplified by my trip to LA, while staying in Venice. In San Francisco, the cold-pressed juice bars are far apart. Very few shops are vegan, raw, organic. And they certainly don’t blast into your face with the whole health-consciousness.

I feel sorry for those who are allergic to many great foods in the world. But for the rest of us? I don’t know.

This evening, left to my own devices, I wandered into a cafe. I was lure by the decor, the essence of recycled wood framed by metal rods. I ambled in, passing a few quiet conversations in corners, heading straight to the back where there seemed to be a small market of juices and other items. Then I hesitated. I saw the kale chips. Nearly $7 for a simple set of ingredients. I have made the same exact thing (sometimes even with conventionally grown kale) for less than $2. And staring me in the face was something that was more than triple the price. Then I stared at the yogurt. Slightly intrigued, but displeased with the $7 price tag. And the juices. Almost $10. I wondered how I would look if I walked out. Would I be judged on the fact that I definitely didn’t fit in (surely people could smell the carnivore inside me) Did I not look like I fit in? I caved and got the yogurt. Placed it in my pocket and wandered next door to buy a deconstructed (by request) BBQ chicken and mello yellow soda.

Then back at the airbnb, I ate like 4 bites and was satisfied. Happily.