And This Is What Adolescence Tastes Like

At least mine did.

For those who have not experienced the pinnacle of Southern California fast food dining, that is an In-N-Out Double Double (Animal) -- well, actually, it's two of them plus some fries, but let's not quibble -- and that burger was a mainstay of my diet in high school and college. I spent more hours than I can count hanging out with my friends at In-N-Out.

Looking at the photo, it's sort of hard not to see the point of those who blame my Type I diabetes and colon cancer on those burgers. As tasty as it is, that is clearly not the healthiest meal the world has ever seen. But you know what? I wouldn't trade a single Double Double for an improved state today. 

They're amazing burgers, and I had great friends to enjoy them with. And if a right hemicolectomy is the price I now have to pay for meals of three decades ago, I'm happy to pay it. 

And this possibly last* Double Double was for all the friends -- far too numerous to try to list here -- who spent time with me at In-N-Out all those years ago. You were the best. 


* According to their website, in the last thirty years In-N-Out has spread from Southern California to Northern California, Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Texas. So it's possible that even without getting back to Southern California, there may be another Double Double in my future. And for all my fellow Southern California refugees in Seattle looking for a fix for their own In-N-Out habits, I recommend Pilchuck's Drive-In in Snohomish. It's not In-N-Out, but it's pretty darn close -- and very tasty in its own right.