December 19, 2019 - 97 - "Stealing Candy From the Mail Carrier"

      I ran around yesterday finishing up the last of my Christmas errands.  (That I'm finishing up now is a miracle worthy of writing about, but that's another story.)   One thing I purposely save for the very last minute is buying candy to go with monetary tips for various people who make our lives nice throughout the year. 

     Candy in the house soon equals extra, uh...junk in the trunk.  

     I thought it was safe to buy this because I was leaving for six days in a row starting early this morning.

     The Russel Stovers chocolate sampler box was laying on a table in the living room, ready for our mail carrier.  

       She, by the way is so great.  She'll even smile and swap pleasantries if you're outside when she comes by.  I know they are all on very tight schedules these days, but the earphone-wearing, heads-down mail carriers make me nostalgic for the casual relationships formed around a little bit of chat about the weather from time to time.  

     You get the feeling with many that they would resent interaction even if you were trying to tell them their mail bag was on fire.

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     I've been on and off the sugar wagon with some regularity lately.  I really do feel better in the long run not having it...but, the lure of the sweet is strong, and I am weak.

     Flash forward to 6:30 last night...



     Michael and I had our usual happy hour in the living room hanging out and talking about the day.  We weren't sitting down for five minutes when Michael jumped up and went to the box.
     

 Michael:  Who's this one for?

Me:  The mail carrier

Michael:  I could get her another one tomorrow.  There's plenty of time before Christmas.

Me:  The reason I got it at the last minute was so I wouldn't be tempted.

Michael:  But it's right here.  Aren't you tempted?

Me:   I am now.

Michael:  Great!  (And he rips into the box.)

     Michael came and sat on the couch next to me for our feeding frenzy.  We'd each choose a piece of chocolate, eat half of it, make comments, and put it back in the box for the other to try.

Me:  What's this one?  (One of the pieces had a white center that was unusually hard, kind of like State Fair Salt Water Taffy leftovers in July.  (Which I, of course, have only had at friend's houses.  Mine is gone by the drive home from the fair.  Duh.)  See above about my inability to resist sugar.) 

Michael:  Let me try it.  (He eats it.  He looks at it.  He ponders...)   Hmmm... ??  Huh....

Me:  I have no idea what that is.

Michael:  Oh, wait, I know! 

Me:  Yeah?

Michael:  It's their Chocolate Covered Museum Putty candy.

Me:  Oh, yes.  That's it.  

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     Ella watched the whole scenario play out, while

silently judging our bad behavior.  (Or am I being guilty and paranoid?)

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     Michael assured me he replaced the chocolate for the mail carrier today.  Not that I don't trust him...but I did get back-up from our porch-cam.  It looked like he got a bigger box than I got her.  (I saw a lot of 2-for-1 specials when I got candy yesterday.  I'm wondering if Michael is home right now eating the other one?)

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 May all of your holiday temptations be as worth the price you pay as ours was!

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"When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile."

-Regina Brett

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"I generally avoid temptation unless I can't resist it."

-Mae West

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"Lead us not into temptation.  Just tell us where it is; we'll find it."

-Sam Levenson

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