i heart sour belt candy

I come all the way down town to the financial district at least once a week. I hate the bus/subway ride and the reason for coming down here (a teaching math graduate course ... ) seems pointless and silly seeing that its a four hour class after hours of teaching.

But I continue to come every week. Not because I am dedicated. Not even because I am afraid of failing. I continue to come each week because I have promised myself I will purchase 2 pounds of the 2nd best sour strawberry belts in the world.

I think it could be considered a slight obsession. I know every bulk candy store in New York City. Even worse, every bulk candy shop worker knows me. And in every city we visited in Spain we searched out the bulk candy shop. (Pamplona has the #1 sour belts in the whole wide world! The sugar is small and delicate yet oh, so sour!)

My obsession reached new heights last week. I should have known better when the elderly gentleman purchasing almonds looked over at my bag, gave me a smirk and said "You know you aren't 7 any more.......right?"
I smiled and laughed and proceeded to dump another pinch full of candy into my bag.

I snacked on them on the subway home. And then I brought a few to school the next day. I then ate some the next night as we watched The Office. On Thursday morning I woke up with a pounding headache and a sore throat. I couldn't swallow anything. The inside of my mouth was swollen and my tongue had chunks missing in the back. I wanted to cry. Or stay home from work. I wanted to be babied.

But Eric wouldn't let me as he reminded me I had eaten over 3 pounds of sour belts in 48 hours.

I mustered my pride and pretended like I wasn't sick .... and I should have grown wiser. I should at least be wiser than a 7 year old. But here I am ... in class again, and the only thing keeping me in my seat is the thought of a heavy bag full of wonderfully sour candy.