The Smell of BBQ

I love the smell of BBQ. This might sound odd coming from a  life-long vegetarian, but it's one of my favorite smells. At twilight I was enjoying the pleasant Florida weather by biking around my neighborhood when I caught a whiff of some BBQ. I looked up and saw my neighbors all gathered around a BBQ grill, talking and laughing.

It's so simple, I thought, of course I love the smell of BBQ. BBQ is the smell of fellowship and of friendship. It's the smell of neighbors who talk to each other and of families who spend summer afternoons at the park.

It was such a good thing to see people outside. It's a strange phenomenon I've noticed since returning from Thailand. Americans don't spend a lot of time outside. We don't talk to our neighbors. As I rode past the group, I waved. I happen to know one of the guys standing next to the grill--he's a friend from church--also a vegetarian. He looked like he was having a great time chatting up the neighbors while drinking orange soda.

I'll probably never eat meat--I dislike the taste of it--but I'll always love the smell of BBQ.