Think about when you are eating a candy like Skittles, Kissables, or M&Ms – any candy that you get many of in a pack/bag. For me, I vary how I eat most of them. I’ll eat them quick, eat them slow, one at a time or many at a time. I may suck on them, chew off the shell then eat the middle, or just chew them up quickly. Regardless of how I eat them, I always like to know when I am eating the last one. I think it’s a mental thing. I will prepare myself for eating this last one and then eat it knowing this candy is now gone.
There are two scenarios where this ritual can break down. The first is the negative side of things. You think you have more Skittles/M&Ms/candy left and when you check you realize you just ate the last one! AARRGGGHH!!! I didn’t get a chance to savor that last one! I ate the last one and didn’t even know it. Without a doubt, one of the worst candy moments in life.
The second scenario is the exact opposite. You grab what you think is the last piece of candy, you come to grips with the idea that this is your last one, and you savor it as you eat it. Then, as you grab the bag, you realize there is one more left! Hallelujah! That wasn’t your last one! You have another. The candy continues. Life is good. So, you savor the last one … again.
THE END
Aw, that’s a sweet little ritual. Sounds so… I dunno… innocent?
As for me, I eat things by color. Skittles are a favorite of mine, so they are my example. I will pour some out in my hand or on my desk, and line them up by color. First I eat all the green ones, then yellow ons, then orange ones; and then I alternate eating the red and the purple ones. Because they are the best.
RESPONSE: Nice! I don’t think I do anything like that (sorting)….at least not consciously :)
April 24th, 2006 at 4:08 pm–Brian
Brian, you have captured the beauty of the surprise last candy so well…
And Beck, I color-sort too! With Skittles I usually make little rainbow pyramids, with red as the base, then orange, yellow, green and purple. Mmm…
April 27th, 2006 at 10:17 amI don’t know why I do this, but I always have. One of my best friends in college was a color-sorter as well. I almost think it’s a type-a personality thing, but I’m not sure.
Steve Almond (author of the book Candy Freak) also sorts by color.
I guess I’m in good company!