I was welcomed like a long-lost friend. Several members of the Seminole Tribe shared their thoughts on pride, identity, and the preservation of their culture… and also their tradition of eating alligator. The tradition also included seemingly eating anything else that moved in the Everglades, plus a variety of carefully cultivated grains, vegetables, roots and fruits. Their diet was also endowed by recipes from runaway African-American slaves who found refuge among the Seminoles. And how did the floured and fried alligator taste? Well, dare I say a bit like chicken, though I tried to ignore the repugnant pieces of alligator fat. Sorry, Mr. Boitano; everyone has their limit.

There I was --- waiting for a new set of tires to be installed on my car. I loitered in Sam's Club to kill the time. I wasn't planning on buying anything but temptation was staring at me on aisle number 25 --- a package of raw, juicy, glistening marbleized steak. "Buy me! Buy me!" it said.