Small Pleasures

I've grown to love a Celestial Seasonings holiday tea called "Candy Cane Lane." Now those of you who know about this brand, they only carry these during Christmas, and then it's over. Poof. Stores pile them on their closeout tables and they are GONE until next year.

Well, I peered inside my Candy Cane Lane box and gasped--only three tea bags left! My heart sank. Was there still time to find it?

I drove to Kroger, Marsh (another supermarket chain), Wal-Mart, Target. Nothing. Not one box.

Nothing compares. I've taste-tested other peppermint teas, but they aren't the same. Candy Cane Lane is a decaf green tea, and something about the way the flavors blend, it's just right. Perfect. Delicious. Put a little honey in there, and I've died and gone to tea heaven.

Now what?

Well, on a whim I slipped into a Walgreens. There was a Gingerbread tea and a Holiday Spice, but no Candy Cane Lane.

Then, I passed a CVS. I decided to stop. I rushed to the Christmas clearance section, and there on the shelf...

one

lone

box.

I almost cried.

I turned to the man stocking shelves. "Is this it? Just one?"

"That's it."

"Well, I should be happy there's one, right?"

"Yes!"

"But I wish there were more. This has to last me an entire year."

"Sorry." He laughed at me. I was clutching the box to my heart. He saw me again when I was sniffing it through the plastic, squeezing the box slightly to let out a puff of aroma. He laughed again. "You sure do love it."

"I do,"I said.

I really do.