Entry #3: Menthol Bliss

Saturday morning, grocery shopping day, navigating my way through the entire population of Peoria at my local Fry's. I make a mental note: "stop shopping on Saturday, you know everyone does their shopping today." I forget to file the note into memory; I'll try again next week. 2000's pop music plays overhead briefly broken up by the high pitched screech of the broken wheel on my cart. With precision I pierce through the fray of carts to the back wall, and begin walking the length of the store. My head is fixed in position to the left; I scan each aisle to identify its contents. Aisle 11, "found it!" My cart's broken wheel cries out as I make a hard left into the one aisle every kid loves. In the polished tile I see the reflection of colorful packaging over saturated by the harsh fluorescent light from above. Cookies, chocolate, and all things sweet flank me on either side. Fighting off the urge to fill up my cart with enough sugary goodness to make a diabetic faint; I zero in on my target. A bag the color of pine needles in the winter hangs from its foil packaging. Like picking an apple from a tree; I pluck the deep green bag from the rack and hold it in my hand. Unable to control myself in the presence of sugar I decide to eat one. The foil crinkles as I tear open the bag to reveal countless white rings; each in their own clear plastic sheath. The clear wrapper peels away and in my hand sits the lustrous white ring. My thumb traces the circumference as I read the letters embossed in the glossy surface. With my mouth watering, I place the circular confectionery onto my tongue and close my eyes.

 In an instant, I was transported to a moment many years ago. It's a late December evening and I'm standing in the living room of my childhood home in my footy pajamas. Before me stands a mighty Christmas tree; bathed in twinkling lights. A fire warms the room and the sweet scent of balsam lingers in the air. I pluck a snow white ring from collection of sweets in a nearby dish and put it in my mouth. An icy explosion detonates in my mouth; the result of a carefully chosen concoction of chemicals that confuse my temperature receptors. A menthol chill spreads across my tongue, but its not just cold; there's a faint heat behind the frost. I bite down on the ring, SNAP, the frigid fire becomes more intense. I exhaled, and like some sort of arctic dragon breathed cold flames. My eyes open and I return to grocery store. A smile forms across my face as my heart is warmed by the sub-zero sweet. I continue on, thankful for the experience, and thankful no one saw me just standing there with my eyes closed like a weirdo.