Dale and Thomas

The smell of the store so decadent-

The aroma danced on your tongue before you decided on a flavor-

I never heard an argument-

Or saw a sour face there-

Pleasantries bounced off of everyone-

-

In Dale and Thomas-

My brain forgot about the Broadway play I was about to see-

And I couldn't hear the commotion of Times Square-

-

In Dale and Thomas-

Next to my Nana-

We were in a small town-

Whose only attraction was this gourmet popcorn-

-

She found this treasure-

In the magical way she must've found all the gems she exposed us to-

I'm not a Nana-

So I don't know the ways they spur greatness in their minds-

I can't decipher how they formulate traditions from a feeling-

-

All I know is she chose the Peanut Butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn-

And that's the only flavor I ever had from Dale and Thomas-

An exquisite even measured balance of sweet and salty-

The crunchiness and the silkiness was a duet for the ages

It felt too elevated for my young taste buds-

Too special for any occasion-

-

The Peanut Butter & White Chocolate DrizzleCorn was the good china that never gets set at the table-

The wedding dress that stays protected in a garment bag at the back of the closet-

That one song that is the anthem to a memory that makes the water fall over the cliffs of your eyes-

-

I would wrestle with giddy energy and pregnancy-level craving

To guarantee that the experience was savored-

-

It was the only snack I consciously took my time to enjoy-

And it was still gone too soon-