There is this amazing candy store (
http://www.thecandystoresf.com/) near my office that has all kinds of nostalgic novelty candies. I have personally seen grown men squeal in delight over finding the gummy sharks in the flavor they haven't seen since childhood. Unabashed. I love places like that.
On my way home today, I decided to stop in and pick up a handful of GIANT Now-and-Laters (half banana, half mixed, if you know me) to console myself over my famously bad week I've been having at work. Yesterday, hilariously, everything I did to make myself feel better went terribly wrong. I went next door to La Boulangerie (
http://www.baybread.com/polk.php) to pick up a lemon tart, and there were almonds in the crust. I found a horse in my package of Chessmen cookies (the horses have been my favorite since childhood) and as soon as I found it, the head fell off. Ryan and I went to Pixar to tour the animation studio and see a special screening of Wall*E, and I got lost driving to his office. Laughable now, but near tragedies then.
This is where I'm expected to tie everything together to form some kind of profound moral, I suppose. I really just wanted to tell an aimless story (which Ryan hates...sorry if you're reading this). But I guess I might have one. Amusingly, this is also how many of my Bible study lessons of yore came about, by chance encounters with two completely random thoughts - one fairly simple, one quasi-philosophical.
It is so difficult to be temperate. It seems to come so easy to Ryan, which is sometimes irritating for me (and then I have to struggle to be temperate again). I really admire him for that, and that quality in the person I interact with the most is really good for me to see in action daily. I see its value, but I also see its constraints...all in all, though, I think it's always good to remember what's Giant now, will not be later (eh? eh?).
Now, two things to do. 1) Take an hour or so to revisit a childhood indulgence...unless your childhood was marked by drug use and/or bouts of depression, then go ahead and disregard. 2) Stop and think about the true value of the thing that is making you want to slit your wrist and/or punch the next person you see. The actual, intricate, eternal value. Continue with your life, a more temperate, content person.
Sidenote: if anyone kept track of the James Beard awards, know that Delfina is good, but the food is really not indicative of the "best" chef in California, in my humble opinion.
Comments (1)
Where do you work? That neighborhood is very familiar - Sabrina used to take drama a few doors down from the candy store (and Sabrina goes to school on the other side of the tunnel). I spent many a Saturday morning having breakfast at Polkers, ice tea at Starbucks, mani-pedis at Lavande and hours wondering the aisles at Walgreens. We have to get together soon! Hope you are adapting to the City. I am biased but I assure you the City has hella to offer
- Steff (Shane's Cousin)