Being a Vegetarian (a poem by Gary Bingham) Inspired by a book “The China Study”. Motivated to have a longer life free of adverse medical conditions. Delighted by great tasting recipes Living to be older than my Grandfather Being less sickly than my Father No heart attack, strokes Bothered by others, asking where I got my protein Brother-in-law’s comment “he would not become a weed eater” A few days later he died of obesity and a heart condition Using wonderful vegetarian cookbooks Planning all evening vegetarian meals Writing recipe shopping cards Cooking vegetarian dishes and receiving compliments for well prepared meals My record of no meat eaten since 2006 Determination to stick to my total elimination of meat, pork chicken and sea food from my diet Having courage to being different then the majority of Americans In 2020 more people died of heart disease then COVID.