Don’t judge me

 

Peanut butter, banana and Nutella.

I said it before we even got moving. Don’t judge me.

Honestly, I don’t think I even need to defend myself here. That’s a pretty nice trio to bring together. A lot of you may have enjoyed them together without admitting it, and here I am just saying it out loud.

But if there were a defense…

I was getting ready to go away for a bit and I wanted to make dinner. On the counter, half of a loaf of bread and a banana one day past ripe. Neither will be around when I return. Perhaps a peanut butter and banana sandwich. Head to the cupboard to get the peanut butter, which is next to the Nutella, and you see how decisions can occasionally arrive in a pretty straightforward manner.

But this is more than a meal before cleaning up the house and preparing to leave for a few days. It’s about the combination and that I’m good with it. You want tuna fish instead, great. (Just don’t make it near me.)

Are there things that you do that others might make fun of because they just don’t understand the greatness? Music you listen to. Games you play. Food you eat. Nothing in particular wrong with it, and no one is being vicious or hurtful in their comments. Good-natured, wondering how you could put potato chips and pickles on your tuna fish sandwich, playful joking around.

A few years ago, Terry and I went to visit our boys. The weather was great, barbecues and outdoor activities were being planned, and someone put us in charge of heading to the store on a beer and wine and any other alcohol run.

Because of the state we were in, many of the adult beverages we had on our list were in different stores. And, we spotted a few things to include in our run. I happened to see a bottled drink I liked from time to time. Seemed like a good thing to get ice cold and share with the group.

Nope.

Got back to the house and the jokes began. (Suffice to say, it was not considered to be a choice that reasonable people make.)

Is it possible to divide the emotions? I mean, people say love it or hate it, there is no in between. Peanut butter and banana and Nutella or tuna fish and pickles, there is no indifference.

If you were to go to Disney World—well, any Disney theme park, if we’re being accurate—you will find nostalgia to the extreme at the “it’s a small world” attraction. Now, I don’t know if words like cool and awesome are going to ever be associated with the ride your grandmother loves. Nor will I tell you that anyone will laugh for making it a must on any visit. But if ever there was an example of straddling the divide between universally adored and slightly outdated, here it is. It’s definitely not indifference. And yet those rushing to any of the Magic Kingdom mountains will likely say they have to ride “it’s a small world” even though no one is concerned about making reservations for it.

I would say it’s possible to create both sides of the story without indifference.

The day after my sandwich, I was still at home. One more full day before I was leaving. One more series of meals to plan. No more bananas though. I’m out of bananas. I wonder what’s left in the fridge. (Does raspberry jam go with Nutella?)

 

If you have any comments or questions, please e-mail me at Bob@inmybackpack.com