These are not items normally found in Australia, but thanks to one of my favorite expats, who has a few more years in Oz under her belt than I do, I found myself in a cornucopia of American candies today at a couple of little candy shops at Warringah Mall.
It is funny how deeply sentimental food is in terms of linking me to the U.S. Like E.T., I would never turn down a Reese's piece; but, cream soda? I could not tell you the last cream soda I had at home, but here I crave it and other strange things that I never cared much about - like Ranch dressing and root beer. The food here is fantastic, but there is something about the familiarity of American brands - the packaging and the taste bring up sense memories of home more keenly than anything else.
I feel like a pregnant woman, overcome with inexplicable cravings for foods I've never given much thought to before. (Side note: I am not a pregnant lady, family and friends, it is simply a metaphor).
Faced with a bounty Pop Tarts, a wall of Jelly Bellies, and even a small selection of Hostess snack cakes, I was overcome with a toothy grin and the feeling that I had found the promised land. I ran my fingers across a box of Cap'n Crunch like it was a cashmere sweater. I gasped at the sight of Tic Tacs.
Thankfully, cooler heads prevailed and I stopped myself at the candy and the soda. But, don't think I wasn't tempted by $10 Hershey syrup.
Also calling my name was a $7 bottle of Heinz sweet relish and a $6 small container of Crisco (how and why these things ended up in the candy shop is a mystery worth pondering).
It was not too hard to stop the obsession when a $44 package of Hershey Kisses was spotted.
I may have gone a little nutty this afternoon, but I didn't lose my mind.
May I say that Reeses Pieces were my favorite candy as a kid and that $44, WHAT? I don't need a kiss that bad either!
ReplyDeleteAmen, sister - I don't even like Kisses that much! Reeses Pieces, though ... I went straight to them like a moth to flame.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the advice you gave. I appreciate that you took the time to give such a good answer!
ReplyDeleteI'm waiting to see if the bride posts any updates after having dinner with our mutual friend tonight...if she says something about how she blew things out of proportion and that our friend isn't as evil as she made her out to be, I may just email her and say that I recognized who she was talking about (especially with the picture evidence) and I don't think it's right to share such personal things on a public forum like that, but if she continues to bitch then I guess I'm going to have to contact my friend. Grrrr, wish I had never found the stupid post!
Sorry for not replying to your last email. I had a million things to say in response and then time got away from me. I've been having a rough time at work...so many people yelling at me and getting snipey with me about "am I actually in Australia or not?" and I had an escalated call last week that my new TL had to take and when she got off of it she said, "I think he didn't like you only because you are American." Fun times! Hope it's treating you well so far :)