Not your average vegetarian. (warning:picture not for the faint of heart)

The last time that I consumed animal flesh (on purpose- stupid Taco Bell mix up and other sneaky stocks have accidentally slipped in there a time or two) was approximately 2006. That is longer than I have ever been committed to anything, ever. At first I didn't like to say I was a vegetarian because it's such a weighted term. People either think I'm a crazy P.E.T.A activist who throws fake blood on people or that I only shop at Whole Foods and eat raw twigs from the earth when they hear it. I do neither of those things and never will but I don't eat meat and don't plan to. I do however respect hunting. Which is the "un-average" part of my vegetarian...ism. When I went to Alaska I had the opportunity to see many different types of wildlife through binoculars. It was amazing. I'd heard all about "glassing" while working at the archery shop and hanging out with bow hunters but I never got a chance to try it out myself until that time. It was after seeing some spectacular animal from such a far distance that I turned to my friend and said "I want to go on a hunt." He was slightly shocked at first but we'd talked about the fact that I think hunting is a great way for people to actually know where their meat is coming from and guarantee that it's not altered or filled with hormones and chemicals. I just wanted to see the entire process. From glassing, which I fell in love with, to finding the animal, hiking in and tracking it, to seeing a wild animal up close and personal. So we planned to go on a Javelina hunt. 
On the first day of 2016 this was what I got to witness. 

I'm glad I went and that this is as graphic a scene as I saw. I built a memorial for little Hamlet and and pondered my feelings about how precious life was, how easily it slips away and affirmed in myself that this is the way I want to live. Grateful for the options that I have but also the right I have to abstain. I wouldn't rule out going on another hunt. I also don't ever need to smell a Javalina again. yuck. I wear the shirt my sister gave me (similar but cuter than this picture) with pride and continue to live my atypical vegetarian experience.