Do You Remember the Cookie Monster?

With all due respect to the cookie monster, C is not for cookie. I do love a good cookie, but C is for chocolate. Chocolate is the food of the gods—literally. Theobroma cacao, the scientific name for the cocoa bean, translates as “food of the gods.”

The ancient Incas, Mayans, and Aztecs believed it was a source of power, and didn’t know whether to call it a food or a medicine. It does release endorphins, those natural hormones produced in our brains that generate feelings of pleasure and well-being. When I worked in a bank about twenty years ago, this research was just being made public. Our supervisor kept a jar of M&Ms on her desk, and one of our male co-workers would often grab a handful, saying he “needed a hug from his father.”

melting chocolate by Fir002

White chocolate, though, is an abomination and should be outlawed. It’s not really even technically  chocolate. I mean, come on.

Our Christmas tree

C is for Christmas. This, my favorite holiday, lasts for over two months at our house. The tree goes up November 1. It takes a few days—longer, it seems, each year—to get it decorated.

Most of the ornaments are red and gold, and the lights are usually white. The house is full of decorations, and 85% of them are lights. Lots and lots and lots of lights. I love sitting in the living room after everyone else is in bed, with only the tree lights on, enjoying all the peace and joy the season brings.

My husband does most of the decorating, but my son does more and more each year. Two years ago he took pictures so he could help put them up in the same places the next year.

We have very few outdoor decorations. Until Johnny got involved, anyway. A couple years ago he borrowed a light-up, blow-up Santa from a school friend in the neighborhood. It was on a timer, and inflated in the afternoon and then deflated in the wee hours of the morning.

So every morning we awoke to “dead Santa.”

We forbade him from putting it up again – ever.

What are your favorite Cs?