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I know
it’s a simple question, but I hope you weren’t expecting a straightforward answer. In terms of my favorite candy, which I rarely
eat at any other time of the year (but I find the Halloween sizes irresistible),
that would be M&M’s (regular or peanut), Nestle Crunch, and KitKat. The
funny thing is, unlike our mom, I’m not a chocoholic,
but there’s just something about the combination of sweet and crunchy. (Which may also explain why I love kettle corn, but
that’s an entirely different subject.)
But when I think of Halloween and fall (my favorite season), there’s one candy that beats out all the others – candy corn! And it has to be the traditional white-orange-yellow ones. I’ll admit that I loved them more when I was a child, but the fact they’re one of my daughter Natasha’s favorites always make me smile. As does memories of making turkey cupcakes with candy corn forming the perfect feathers, beak, and feet! |
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I have one word to describe candy corn – nasty. Consistency and flavor. Although I will admit they make great
(non-edible) cupcake decorations. Anyway,
growing up, my favorite Halloween candies were Mounds, Milk Duds, Charleston
Chew, and Starburst. (Candy trivia –
which of those was used to teach rheology, the branch of physics that studies
the deformation and flow of matter? For the answer, check out this paper
from the Geological Society of America.)
Today, although I am no longer a candy fan, I enjoy the history of Halloween candy in general as well as specific nostalgic treats. But, I love how the Halloween concept of individually wrapped smaller versions of candy is now being used for other food items (such as pretzels, veggie chips, and popcorn). And, I am stocking up on them as they are perfect portion-controlled snacks good year-round. |
Red
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Black
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| I admit I'd never heard of The Make-A-Wish Foundation before I was almost 40 (I lived abroad until then), and it was Black’s involvement with this life-changing organization that led me to learn about it. Growing up, charity wasn’t a big part of our lives, although I learned decades later that my grandmother was involved in Fight For Sight. Once I was living in the same city as Black, I could see how important Make-A-Wish was to her (how could you miss the logos on her racecar?). I also saw how it makes such a difference in the lives of children suffering from critical illnesses. And how the power of a wish impacts not only the Wish kid but their families and even strangers, as so many of the wishes bring together neighbors and communities. But the best part may have been as I watched my daughters learn about charity and became involved by having lemonade sales, with all proceeds going to our local Make-A-Wish chapter (find your local chapter). |
| I have been involved with Make-A-Wish for decades (for how I first became involved, see our book excerpt, "Can Charity Be Selfish?") and have seen firsthand how it has touched so many lives, starting with Tommy Austin, who granted the first wish in 1980. However, it has done more for me than I can ever do for it. Once you see the hope, joy, and optimism of a Wish child waging a courageous battle — and the ripple effect of that wish — you want to help in whatever way you can (donate, volunteer, fundraise, spread awareness). It reminds me that my problems or frustrations are minuscule in the scheme of things. It is my “reality check” on life. |
| Oh, so many parents, myself included, can relate! Now that I’m an “empty nester”, there’s a part of me that misses being needed for something as straightforward as being their personal chauffeur. Right now, it may seem like it’s never going to end, but it goes by so quickly. Trust me. At the time, it would often drive (pun intended) me crazy, and I’d think about all the “lost hours” driving my daughter to volleyball practices and tournaments. But were they really lost, as I now miss that quiet time with her? |
| Not having children, I can only give you an “outsider’s” perspective. And, I know there are Uber-type transportation services for teenagers, although without doing extensive research on them, I cannot say whether I would have felt comfortable with my nieces using them. However, I remember that once Red’s youngest was old enough to drive, as were some of her friends, Red often replaced time chauffeuring with time worrying. At one time, I suggested making the car a “no cell-phone” zone — but explain that is what you charge for chauffeuring service. Now, I wonder if that should apply to adults, too. |
red head assets.rebelmouse.io 
Black assets.rebelmouse.io | I can relate. When my husband got fired, Black made me total up all our credit card debt, and I broke down in tears. The funny thing is that before she’d help me deal with it, she insisted on giving me a history lesson on credit cards. And although I love history, initially, I fought her. But I’m so glad she ignored me! To this day, understanding that the origin of credit cards wasn’t a line of credit but instead a convenience (to be paid in full every month) has made a huge difference. But that doesn’t answer your question. I think we all know how easy it is to rack up credit card debt. If you don't already have one, you need a monthly budget to see where you can cut back and apply those “savings” to pay down your credit card bills. Without making this a math class (not my favorite subject), I just memorized that after paying the minimums, I should apply any “extra” money to the credit cards with the highest interest rates (APRs). There’s nothing I can do about the past, but I can start making better decisions today. |
| I appreciate that “misery loves company,” and recognizing that we all are susceptible to overspending (Nicholas Cage took it to the extreme) helps explain why so many people carry credit card debt. If it makes you feel better, I got in debt over my head shortly after getting my M.B.A. (in International Finance, so I had no excuse). To the point where, although I was making a great salary in a corporate job, I had to take a second job waitressing on weekends to pay down the debt. Am I suggesting you get a second job? No. I am suggesting you look at the numbers and decide how best to “attack” them (maybe even consider debt consolidation to lower the overall interest rate you are paying). Some people suggest paying off the lowest balances first, but that is a psychological approach. As Red will tell you, I am pragmatic and prefer to crunch the numbers and come up with a realistic plan ... and set myself up for success. |
Don’t Expect A Compliment From A Sarcastic Sister — But Have A Comeback