“All you need is love.
But a little candy now and then
doesn’t hurt.”
~ Charles M. Schulz
The quest to find the Fountain of Youth has been the topic of countless books and movies through the years. Especially in the United States, where it seems that youth is cherished and old age is perceived by many to be a disability, there has been significant interest in the secret to living a long and productive life. I think I may have found it.
My mother is 92-years-old. From all outward appearances, she seems to be relatively good health for someone her age. Mom goes out for walks several times each day. She loves to read good books and she participates in many of the social activities at her retirement community. Mom watches very little television, though she does enjoy Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and an occasional San Francisco Giants baseball game or Golden State Warriors basketball game. Mom also enjoys a donut or maple bar, vanilla milkshake, or glass of wine every now and then. There is one “medication,” however, which she takes daily.
We keep Mom supplied with a fresh box of See’s Scotchmallow candies at all times. Mom keeps them refrigerated, and for a very good reason. When the candy is cold, the caramel inside hardens, making it difficult to eat immediately after taking it out of the refrigerator. So each night, upon returning to her room from dinner, she takes one piece of candy out of the refrigerator and places it on the kitchen sink. Later in the evening, she savors every bite of her delicious dessert, which, by then, is soft and chewy.
The key to success of this diet, of course, is self-control. It is imperative that Mom take only one piece of candy out each night. I remind her on occasion that a second piece on the same night will never taste as good as the first. She agrees. This routine seems to be working quite well for her. Each time she visits her cardiologist, he informs her that she’s in great shape and tells her to come back in six months. The same is true when Mom visits her dentist. It seems that eating just one Scotchmallow per day just might be the secret to living a long, healthy, and productive life.
I would consider adding this medication to my own daily routine, but I don’t have the self-restraint my Mom exhibits each evening. I can imagine a one-pound box of See’s chocolates disappearing within two days in our home. It has happened before!
It’s always a pleasure for me to stop by See’s to renew my mother’s “prescription” for Scotchmallow candies. Mom always appreciates the refill, and I am grateful for the generous samples the folks at See’s offer to their customers. It’s a win-win.
