Okay, folks,...it's time to take a poll! I am a gumaholic. I LOVE chewing gum. My FAVORITE gum is Orbit. My favorite flavor is the Sweet Mint.Anyway, as long as I can remember, I have always ended a good gum chewing session by swallowing my gum. I didn't think this was a big deal until I got married. I then found out that Matt thinks this is very gross and he is sure that I am one of the only decent people who actually does this. He also won't let me teach Josh to swallow his gum. He said this was one place he needs to put his foot down. (Personally, I think it would be handy if Josh knew how to swallow his gum).
Here are my thoughts on the matter:
1. Swallowing your gums is such a handy habit because you never have to find a garbage can when you are done chewing....and you deffinitely don't want to be one of those "under-the-seat" discarders!!
2. It has been proven that your gum does NOT stay in your stomach for 7 years...so that is no longer a good argument!
3. Why is it gross to swallow a piece of gum when we swallow everything else we chew?
4. If it is gross to swallow gum because it kind of cleans our teeth, then why don't we think it's gross to use the same toothbrush over and over?
Well, to get to the point....Matt has given me a challenge: Find three other people who are not my family members, who regularly swallow their gum. If I can find three other people, then he might concede that I am not completely gross!! So, I thought I'd see if anyone who reads my blog swallows their gum. If you want to help my cause, you could start swallowing your gum a lot and I will count it as "on a regular basis" :)
I hope I don't find out that I am a loner in this...
-rebekah
29 comments:
well, first of all, i was thrilled to see the yellow orbit gum picture, since the lemon lime orbit is my personal favorite! :)
you already know that i'm a gum swallower, but for some reason, i don't count...what's that all about?! that matt-a-tat. i would be offended if he wasn't such a great guy. :)
Sorry Rebekah - I don't swallow my gum on a regular basis. In fact I think I have only done it a handful of times in my life. Although your arguements are convincing, I have to believe that if gum was made for swallowing everyone would be doing it! Maybe there is a gum-chewing conspiracy out there that has convinced people to throw out their gum and I have blindly followed them all of my life aiding them in whatever their foul schemes are. But I doubt it, nevertheless you might want to watch your back as you lead this "swallow your gum" revolution. They could be reading...
Hey Beks!
I am not a gum swallower either! Sorry! I got scared off with the whole getting stuck in your esophagus and stomach for seven years. I was worried that after too many pieces it would be like a blocked artery and I would no longer be able to keep down food because the pipe would be clogged! Plus the times I have accidentally swallowed it, I don't like the feeling, but it could be from my paranoia of swallowing pills. I mean it did take me till the age of 12 to learn how to swallow a tylenol! Up until then I had to do the chewable kind! :-)
FINALLY! I have found someone else. Rebecca, you dont know how good this makes me feel that I am not alone! Darin thinks gum is gross and swallowing it is nasty! As does almost everyone else that knows I swallow my gum. I swallow my gum and I consider myself a "decent" person as Matt puts it : ) Hi matt : )
I began my gum swallowing life around the age of 15 when i started chewing bubblicious grape bubble gum in High School. It tasted so good and I wanted to find a food that tasted just as yummy but couldnt so I just basically started eating it! (not really but I did love it!) But I love all of the gums that stay soft and tasty! It's a delicious snack Matt, you should try the grape bubblicious...it is yummy to the tummy! Pretty much any gum I chew, I swallow, I dont really have a favorite. But there is an exception to my swallowing...I rarley ever swallow the "Extra" gum b/c it is always so hard after a good chewing session. But Rebecca, if Matt dubs you a gross person then we can chew (and swallow) our gum with confidence that we are not alone! JL
YAY!!! I think we should make t-shirts for this few of us who swallow. :) Jessica, your post cracked me up! Isn't it funny?! It was grape bubblelicious gum that started my habit too! And I agree, I don't usually swallow extra, bit if I need to, i will. What I don't understand is the people who stick it under a chair...now to me me, THAT'S gross!
YAY!!!!!!! I found a fellow gum swallower!!!!!!
And you know what Jessica, I do believe we may have started swallowing our gum for the same reasons. I distinctly remember chewing Bubblicious grape gum and I could only chew it for about a minute and then I would swallow it because it was so good! How funny!!! I just laughed when I read your post because of how similar our feelings about gum are!! I feel like we have bonded at a new level!
Okay...One down...two to go!
And Tami, I think you should count...but I Matt thinks we are made from the same mold so you don't! Sorry sis!
Love,
rebekah
Whoa!!!!!!!!!!!! Now this is an interesting dialog! You guys swallow your gum?!!! Amazing! No! No! a thousand times No! - I agree with Matt - it is gross!!! Looks like everyone has passionalte feelings about disgarding chewed gum, something I never thought about before or cared about knowing! But really, guys - it can't be GOOD for your bodies. After all, didn't God give us food to swallow to nourish our bodies?!! Seems like chewed gum would just be a hinderance to the break down process that the body is already dealing with in all the food in there. (Most of our bodies are already working at a disadvantage with all the processed foods, sugars, etc we feed it) And how does it go through all the body parts? It doesn't break down at all, so it is obviously simply a nuisance to deal with once inside the system. Sorry, I totally join Matt's view point! It really isn't hard to disgard chewed gum, I've successfully done it for 50 years without too much stress or effort!!! :) A. Cindy
I'm not sure if I count (or maybe I'll count extra since I'm blood related to Matt?) But I do swallow my gum every so often. It's not a regular thing, but if there's no wrapper or garbage near by I have no qualms swallowing my gum...sorry, I hope you don't feel betrayed by your own sister!
Booxy
Hey Rebecca, interesting thing happened today during our bible study...we were going along, reading Beth Moores thoughts on hypocrisy and all of a sudden Jill grabs for a kleenex to spit out her gum...she gasps, sucking in air and right down the gum went! We all stopped our indepth conversation and thought what in the world just happened! Well, I told her about Matt's challenge to you and encouraged her to seriously consider continuing her gum swallowing...ya know, girls (and guys) it never to late to start! : ) Then you would have another "decent" person to add to your list...
According to Chicago-based gastroenterology expert Charles Baum, M.D. any gum that does somehow end up in your stomach should pass through in less than a day's time--undigested. Still, I don't swallow. I would rather you swallow gum than spit it out so that I can step on it
Why is it called "Chewing Gum"? It's meant for your mouth, not your stomach (which can't chew). Love ya Rebekah, but I'm with Matt on this one. (However, as a kid I used to swallow).
U. Mark
Rebekah, I'm like Booxy...we must be related. I only swallow it when I have nowhere else to go with it. I will not put it under a chair.
A. Barb
hmmm...I'm getting desperate here. Maybe Booxy and Aunt Barb can count as one because together they might almost make a "regular". I can practically hear Matt's "nooo no". But I think it's fair...actually I really liked the idea that Booxy counts as more because she's matt's sister! I'm still holding out for someone else!!!
Finally....other people who are normal!! I am a lifelong gum swallower who never could find the whole "seven years in your stomach" argument persuasive. I believe those of us who are gum swallowers have a grounded, practical, utilitarian view of life....and one that isn't dependent on approval from our fellow "ewww gum swallowing is gross" peers. I'm bettin' that David, Moses, and Joshua were all gum swallowers...seems there was a verse I read somewhere.....at any rate...I stand proudly and in full support with my fellow gum swallowers!! "Gum swallowers of the world unite and throw off your chains!!!"
Andy
Matt insists that we have more identification than "andy". He says for all he knows, it could be Tami posing as an Andy! I never knew my husband could be so suspicious!! So, Andy, give us your last name! All I have to say, is you have made my night!! The gum chewers' ranks are growing not only in numbers but also in united strength!! (okay...that was a little over the top!)
-Rebekah
Yeah! Come out and show yourself Andy...be proud of it! : ) hehe...Rebecca, have I told you how much I love this blog...seriously, I need to not check it every couple hours! It's starting to interupt my sewing! ok, did I just admit to everyone that I have no life...oh well, I love it!
I've been asked to identify myself.....well...there is some comfort in mystery...as for matt..."o ye of litle faith"..."hast thou not know that the gum swallowers shall inherit the earth"....(or at least the smug satisfaction of being on the correct side of a seriously controversial issue)...alas...if i MUST identify myself, I'll just say that I am the fortunate husband of a beautiful and wonderful woman and the father of two sweet, beautiful girls...(I mean seriously, how many andy's are there with the moral certitude to be self proclaimed gum swallowers!!...ok marla says that sounds pretty haughty...and i'll have to admit that she's right...so i'll stop waxing poetic and just say that yes, I, andy hodel, am a proud gum swallower...(even though my wife also finds it repulsive)!!
YES!!! YES!!! YES!!!! I have found my three decent people who swallow their gum!!!!!!!! Too bad Matt is already asleep or maybe i could get him to comment here. I can't believe I have found fellow gum swallowers just from my blog friends!!! This has been so fun! I feel like I've won a gameshow or something! Okay...I need to stop and go to bed!
the rest of you need to try it...as you can see from the few of us that have posted here about swallowing our gum - it has only brought us lots of joy! No yucky feelings ;)
-Proud not to be the only one!!!!
I feel victory as well...kind of the same way I felt when President Bush won against Al Gore. A sense of relief. :) Rebekah and I have been in the battle with Matt for a long time...and as I told her last night, I think Matt owes us a word on this matter!
I also find it interesting that his sister, and two MEN contributed to this momentous occasion! :) Okay Matt, you know I love you tons and I'm just glad we can finally put this to rest. :)
Jonathan, I shouldn't have been surprised that it would be YOU to cast the winning card! Can always count on a 'sweetmonkey' to pull through in a tight spot.
wow...now I just feel like I'm giving my thank-you speech for an oscar
I know I'm coming in late here, but I definitely swallow my gum whenever (a) there's no socially acceptable way of spitting the gum on the ground, and (b) there's no trash can within distance. If I didn't swallow under these circumstances, I would have to spit the gum into paper, and then put the soggy paper in my pocket--which seems, on the whole, much less appealing than just swallowing. This usually means I swallow gum on a long car ride, or during church services.
Swallowers' solidarity,
Kory
i'm curious...is this kory langhofer or kory kaeb? those are the only two kory's i know.
you seem to be on the road to gum chewing freedom my friend...when you start to see the advantages of swallowing over spitting and holding the soggy wod!
-rebekah
It is not Kory Kaeb - sorry to tell you Rebekah but he sides completely with Matt. He goes so far to say that even if he was a "gum-swallower" in the past he would completely recant because his loyalty is to Matt. I don't understand his loyalty (no offense Matt)and think that it is a little extreme but that is the way he feels (at least for the purpose of this blog!).
Boy!! I could be hurt Mr. Kaeb! All I can say is, only a non-gum swallower could actually imagine being a gum swallower and stopping!
I'm also happy to find out that my great cousin Kory is reading my blog! I'm honored!
I think this gum chewing thing has probably run its course. I'm sure you are all thinking...post something new so we can stop hearing about this crazy debate! I will when I can think of anything to write about!
hey rebekah!
like you, i am obsessed with gum and...i swallow it most of the time!!! i don't think its gross at all (klint does). actually, it is a pride thing for me. there is hardly a time that i don't have gum in my mouth. i am a chain-chewer. i go from one piece to the next (and so on). well, sometimes i am embarrassed to take one out of my mouth and stick another one in. Therefore, i swallow it to avoid others critical eyes as to why i am again putting another piece in my mouth.
thanks for making me feel better!
sarah
I may thow up...
Throw up. I may throw up.
Hello, my name is Andrew Feucht and I'm a gum-swallower. (Here is where you all say Hi, Andrew). Rebekah, rest assured, if there really were a GA (Gum-swallowers Anonymous), I would be the last to be dragged kicking and screaming into the community center gym. I always swallow my gum. Not only is it more sanitary, as you pointed out, than putting it somewhere for some lucky passerby to find, it makes a great snack. Ever been hungry around 3:00 p.m. knowing that you had to wait for supper? Put in the gum and as we all know, the taste only lasts so long, so biting off small chunks and swallowing them gives you the satisfaction of putting a bit in your stomach (also satisfying oral fixations) and you are set until supper. I digress. God gave us a digestive system for a reason, let's use it.
Andy Feucht
I'm so late on this conversation. I'm so behind technologically that this is only the 2nd blog I've seen- Megan's was the first. Anyway, had to input- I'm a gum-swallower too! Not sure about Ben- have to ask! : )
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