You start off with a big, flour tortilla – a realm of possibility. This flat expanse of bread, which gives you ultimate control, is the source of all that is good in that moment. It’s like birth, a time where you have the whole world before you and have not tarnished it yet with bad decisions and regretful choices.
You head down the line of your local Chipotle. Next comes the decision of whether or not you want to include cilantro-lime rice. Now, rarely does one skip the rice – the decision’s almost already made for you. But it’s filling, so you let it slide; you already have control over so much. What’s the harm in one measly decision being made for you?
It’s like your parents deciding what religion you will practice. You’re a baby – you can’t decide for yourself. But you get used to it, like the rice, and accept it as somewhat inevitable. Maybe one time you ate bad rice and the thought of it now makes you gag – that’s when you decide to change the rice and believe in a different ingredient.
Now you’re warming up, getting excited. Do you want pinto or vegetarian black beans or vegetables? This decision will decide the nature of the taste of your burrito. If you choose beans but are really a vegetable person, you could be incredibly dissatisfied with one of the most defining choices.
These are like your hobbies – the things that make up your personality. If you play sports but don’t have an athlete’s build or nature, you’re most likely going to be unhappy with the decision to dabble in athletics. If you love playing football, a lot of that makes up who you are and how you act. Your favorite hobby is like your peppers: It makes things interesting and spicy and greatly influences the whole product.
The time has come to decide what kind of meat you want. Will you go with the braised carnitas? Or perhaps barbacoa, adobo-marinated and grilled chicken or steak? Maybe a combination of two? Or no meat at all? This is the largest factor of the whole – the taste, texture and volume all depends on this decision. In life, your job, relationships and interests are the meat.
These defining components are the essence of your being – the choices you’ve made that determine what happens in your daily life. If the meat is not cooked enough or has gone bad, the whole thing is ruined – as your life would be if you hated your job, spouse or house.
The last stop before checkout is the toppings. Do you want salsa or guacamole? Lettuce? Cheese? Sour cream? These components are what make life fun: The nights you go out with friends, the holidays, the vacations. They add that little something that makes everything go from bland to delicious.
The burrito is one of the most popular choices at Chipotle, the restaurant that occupies a storefront on Route 1 and our minds. The store leads many students to forget their diets and eat the biggest meal they can manage. What someone orders can really say a lot about who a person is.
Life is a lot like a Chipotle burrito – confusing, mildly overwhelming but always delicious.
Maria Romas is a sophomore English and journalism major. She can be reached at romas@umdbk.com.
