"I'll have the catfish plate and a small soda please." The corner Mediterranean grocery/restaurant, Vine Ripe Market, always has great food. From gyro and skewered chicken to trout, tilapia, catfish, salmon, shrimp, lamb,all the yummy stuff you can't find at the local burger house.

The bubbly girl at the counter asks, "What kind of drink would you like?" I tell her I will have a diet soda. "Really!?" was the following shocked statement from her lips.

I guess she was expecting the usual call for Pepsi or some other flavored soda. I didn't know what to say. The possibility of explaining about my diabetes flashed into my head, or if I should just play it off as normal. It was a simple interaction, but it weighted on me for several minutes after. Did I react the right way? Should I have explained to her why I chose diet? Was it any of her business? Maybe next time I'll just roll with it and make light of my love for sugar-free drinks.

I tend to reserve my speech about having diabetes and my deliberate decisions on diet choices. I always fear that look of pitied concern/judgment to be flashed my way (whether intentionally or not). So on this day I just nodded and accepted my diet soda, shaking the cup to release all the excess carbonation that gets formulated in.

The catfish was yummy, along with the basmati rice, hummus, and salad. All washed down with my flagrantly chosen diet soda. Yes, I will be back for more and yes, diet soda will likely be added to the bill. Maybe next time I can get an informative word out otherwise.

I wonder, how would you react in my place?