The Seventh Deadly Sin

When I was in college, I took a course called Biblical Themes in Literature. The professor taught us the acronym PEWSLAG, which was a way to memorize the seven deadly sins of Pride, Envy, Wrath, Sloth, Lust, Avarice, and Gluttony.

I have long since experienced the first six of the seven sins. Monday night, I committed the seventh -- Gluttony.

After a long, horrible week of Kevin being gone every single night, and after 9 long months of Kevin serving on a high-maintenance committee at church, we were going out to celebrate. The church had finally chosen a new worship pastor, and Kevin was free. Plus, I had scored an upscale mystery shop at a local steak and seafood restaurant. We had a $200 expense limit, and we wanted to use as much as possible.

That was the mentality that led to my stomach's downfall.

I ate crab cakes with remoulade sauce, a spectacular asian pear salad, red snapper topped with scallops and crab and a scrumptious cream sauce, some asparagus, a roll, and a few bites of both tiramisu and a molten chocolate cake. Oh, and four raspberries. Top that off with a Cape Cod cocktail, several glasses of iced tea, and two cups of coffee. Everything tasted so flipping wonderful and I just couldn't stop eating.

I was fine, albeit stuffed, when we left the restaurant. By the time we got home, I could tell that my stomach was feeling a little too stretched. Later I was so uncomfortable that I couldn't sleep, so I drank some Mylanta and read a book.

The next morning? Nope, still not hungry. I drank three sips of OJ and decided that was enough. Lunch time came and went and I still couldn't handle the thought of eating again. I finally got hungry around 4 p.m, which was good since we had another dinner mystery shop. This time I only ate half my entree and brought the leftovers home.

I'm quite sure I'll commit those first six deadly sins again. After all, it's pretty hard to overcome pride, jealousy, anger, laziness, lust, and greed. I can say with confidence that I won't commit gluttony anytime soon. Then again, we are eating at the Plaza Club on Wednesday night...