The Traveler's Diet
Chapter One
Chapter 1- Diet Another Day
The last time I weighed what I was supposed to weigh was in
1969. I remember it well. It was New Year’s Eve, and that
was the night I gave up smoking.
Three days later, I was in Israel, on the border with Syria,
covering a continuing border war. We were in foxholes, and
someone had launched mortars toward the Israeli positions. As
the explosions came way too close for comfort, the other journalists
with me were convinced we were going to die.
Suddenly, behind me, two Israeli soldiers appeared, and were
handing out disgusting French cigarettes.Two of the other journalists,
guys who had never smoked, accepted them and lit up.
When the soldiers got to me, I attempted to decline politely,
saying I was “trying to quit.” The war seemed to stop for about
fifteen seconds while everyone looked at me incredulously, as if
to say, “You’re trying to quit? We’re all about to die anyway.Take
the cigarette!”
I didn’t.We lived. And I haven’t had a cigarette since. OK, so
much for the good news.
But from the morning of January 6, 1970, when I returned
home, I was on ... read full excerpt from The Traveler's Diet ebook
