I remember when I stopped eating, I was two years old.

I had to have eye surgery and while recuperating in the hospital I had to
wear eye patches.

Since I couldn't see what I was eating, I just stopped eating. Not for just
a few weeks but for the next 20 years.

One night in bed at the hospital I woke up and remember my Mom's hand
didn't reach out when I called her and I panicked. I tore off the eye
patches, slid out of the bed and walked down an empty hallway to a giant
round waiting room with chairs around the circumference. There was Mom with
my aunt and uncle. I couldn't hear myself crying but I knew I was. I
started walking towards them and they rushed up and saved me. And that's
the last I remember about being two years old.

It's not everyday you feel helpless and abandoned like I did. It really
scared the heck out of me at that time. So Mom never forgave herself for
not being there 24 hours a day at my side as I lay in temporary darkness
for those few days.

I kept to my guns and stopped eating.

Before the surgery I ate everything, so I was told many many years later.
TOUGH! I'm not eating anymore!

So, what did I eat for the next 20 years?

Bread and butter
Chicken and turkey white meat
Rice
Veal cutlets
Steak
Potatoes
Spaghetti in butter.
Cereal
Milk
Cookies
Bread and butter with chicken roll slices
Plain hamburgers, no condiments, no cheese
Lettuce, cucumbers, carrots, artichokes, corn, apples
Pancakes with butter and syrup
Ice cream
Split pea soup (? Never figured that out ?)

No... eggs, cheese, ketchup, mustard, onions, beans, pork, fish ('cept fish
sticks), tomato, mayonnaise, mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus and hundreds of
other foods.

My folks took me to the doctor and said "he only eats bread and butter and
milk. Doc said, "he seems to be getting enough protein, etc., let him be."

At 6'3", I'm the tallest of all the family generations!

College was easy since with a cafeteria meal card I could have whatever
crap I wanted 3 times a day and still have some variety with my milk. Even
chocolate milk!

I was never overweight, rather a string-bean!

After college, I was on my own. Got my first apartment. Couldn't cook much
and continued to eat crap.

I got to know the neighbors in the building and one day a couple living
right above my apartment invited me up for a small Sunday breakfast and I
accepted. They called me Sunday morning to come up. So I walked in and sat
down to a breakfast of homemade pumpernickel bagels and cream cheese.

Well... I was trapped! I had to try it, not wanting to insult their
generosity. So, I took a bite and began chewing and all of a sudden part of
my brain sprang to life and I could taste a flavor I'd remembered prior to
my eye surgery. I didn't say a word, just gobbled them down. The whole time
thinking to myself this is a miracle!!!

It was a pretty friggin' remarkable occasion and I remember it like it was
yesterday.

A week later they invited me up for dinner and I again accepted. This time
I walked in and sat down to spaghetti in homemade marinara sauce and
parmesan cheese (YUCKKK!!!). I bit the bullet again and spun some on a fork
and ate it. When it hit my tongue, I lit up!!! There was no mistake!
Silently, "I've had this before and I remember loving it. And wow does it
taste delicious!!!" I finished it with great haste and had a second
serving.

Very soon after, I began trying other things. My first scrambled egg was a
hurdle, as was my first cheeseburger and my first tuna-fish sandwich with
mayo and on and on, confidently breaking down food walls I installed at 2
years old. Every taste rang a "delicious" bell!

I remember visiting the family soon after and my interest in eating
everything for dinner came as quite a shock to everyone except me! I wonder
if Mom didn't secretly weep tears of joy later that night.

Nowadays, everything but lima beans is fine. There are still plenty of
foods I have yet to try, but I'm happy with my progress over the past 27
years since a pumpernickel bagel with cream cheese changed my food life
around.

Andy