Thoughts on Ideas; Sundry Sweetness
I have come to the conclusion that ideas are like candy. The type of idea depends on the type of candy. Let me explain…
The idea to get started on homework? Licorice-the black kind. It doesn’t taste good unless you have odd tastes but there is an odd satisfaction in eating it. You’re doing something productive; you’re doing homework. You’re eating licorice…while doing homework or something else productive, like writing or killing orcs (you can hold the licorice in your mouth) or just doing your civic duty by ridding the jar of the licorice-flavored jellybeans.
The idea to help someone? Sourpatch (including the yellows). Only certain people find the immediate taste delicious but even those that don’t normally find Sourpatch good encounter a very sweet aftertaste as the sugar rots their teeth. When you help someone, such as helping your mother put up the dishes, the immediate action is not all that pleasurable. Vacuous leftover water in bowls and cups can get on your hands or you might find that little corn kernel that just wouldn’t die like all other respectable leftover food. Or worst of all, you realize someone else already unloaded the dishwasher and replaced its contents and that, no, the ketchup blobs are not the dishwasher’s fault. Like when you realize that someone already ate all the red Sourpatches and only left the yellows and oranges. Your first thought tends to be “Bastard!” to both, regardless of who did the deed. But whatever comes out of that dishwater, you wind up doing the good thing and helping your mother. The smile of thanks you get is reward enough (though promises of Starbucks never hurt). Except it won’t rot your teeth. The sweetness applies to both though.
The idea to start a revolution? I would have to go with Red Hots. They both taste good in your mind and mouth. They are exciting and a bit different. Not everyone can handle the spicy sweetness of the idea or the Red Hot. There is triumph in being able to chew and swallow several Red Hots while someone says “No, don’t do it! That’s too hot!” Chances are you would shake your head and call him or her a wussy, much like Enjolras would have had the word existed in 19th Century France, or if Enjolras had ever tried a Red Hot. Yet all this excitement comes at a price. If you eat a whole box of Red Hots or storm the Winter Palace without having proper arms, you might wind up nauseous or, in some ways worse, with your head on a pike.
The idea to write? Christmas chocolate-the fancy boxes, maybe Godiva. Christmas chocolate (or any chocolate) tastes fantastic. It provides excitement and tastiness and possibility, such as the possibility for epic regifting. But with a good deal of people there is a desire not to lose the yumminess too early. And so the box of chocolate sits in all its nutty, creamy, or cherry-filled glory, much like a beautiful idea in your mind that you fantasize about. You wonder how delicious the chocolate will taste. But sometimes delayed gratification or a desire to hold onto something good is the worst way to waste a gift. Some day when you finally decide to try the chocolate (as an April treat) you find to your horror that the chocolate is now crumbly and stale, or infested with weevils. You finally sit at your computer, open a word document and realize...the idea might remain but the fire that gave it such beautiful warmth and vigor has long gone out. The thief-turned-assassin might still escape from the castle dungeon and seduce the king’s daughter in the process but is there really any passion behind it? Something as savory as a good idea (or chocolate) cannot be left in a box. It must be used while life (or flavor) still remains! Did the thief escape by galloping through the gates on the princess’s favorite palfrey or did he creep through the sewers and encounter the hideous lovechild of Cthulhu and the Penguin? Did the chocolate contain almonds or pralines? Ideas cannot sit too long and retain their flavor, nor can chocolate. But if chocolate is gobbled down in a few days or if a few hours are dedicated to Chasan the Charmer’s selfish-but-awesome exploits, then the chocolate and idea might be spent but you will have the feeling of having consumed top grade chocolate or having produced a harrowing adventure for all to read.
See? Candy links the Universe.
The idea to get started on homework? Licorice-the black kind. It doesn’t taste good unless you have odd tastes but there is an odd satisfaction in eating it. You’re doing something productive; you’re doing homework. You’re eating licorice…while doing homework or something else productive, like writing or killing orcs (you can hold the licorice in your mouth) or just doing your civic duty by ridding the jar of the licorice-flavored jellybeans.
The idea to help someone? Sourpatch (including the yellows). Only certain people find the immediate taste delicious but even those that don’t normally find Sourpatch good encounter a very sweet aftertaste as the sugar rots their teeth. When you help someone, such as helping your mother put up the dishes, the immediate action is not all that pleasurable. Vacuous leftover water in bowls and cups can get on your hands or you might find that little corn kernel that just wouldn’t die like all other respectable leftover food. Or worst of all, you realize someone else already unloaded the dishwasher and replaced its contents and that, no, the ketchup blobs are not the dishwasher’s fault. Like when you realize that someone already ate all the red Sourpatches and only left the yellows and oranges. Your first thought tends to be “Bastard!” to both, regardless of who did the deed. But whatever comes out of that dishwater, you wind up doing the good thing and helping your mother. The smile of thanks you get is reward enough (though promises of Starbucks never hurt). Except it won’t rot your teeth. The sweetness applies to both though.
The idea to start a revolution? I would have to go with Red Hots. They both taste good in your mind and mouth. They are exciting and a bit different. Not everyone can handle the spicy sweetness of the idea or the Red Hot. There is triumph in being able to chew and swallow several Red Hots while someone says “No, don’t do it! That’s too hot!” Chances are you would shake your head and call him or her a wussy, much like Enjolras would have had the word existed in 19th Century France, or if Enjolras had ever tried a Red Hot. Yet all this excitement comes at a price. If you eat a whole box of Red Hots or storm the Winter Palace without having proper arms, you might wind up nauseous or, in some ways worse, with your head on a pike.
The idea to write? Christmas chocolate-the fancy boxes, maybe Godiva. Christmas chocolate (or any chocolate) tastes fantastic. It provides excitement and tastiness and possibility, such as the possibility for epic regifting. But with a good deal of people there is a desire not to lose the yumminess too early. And so the box of chocolate sits in all its nutty, creamy, or cherry-filled glory, much like a beautiful idea in your mind that you fantasize about. You wonder how delicious the chocolate will taste. But sometimes delayed gratification or a desire to hold onto something good is the worst way to waste a gift. Some day when you finally decide to try the chocolate (as an April treat) you find to your horror that the chocolate is now crumbly and stale, or infested with weevils. You finally sit at your computer, open a word document and realize...the idea might remain but the fire that gave it such beautiful warmth and vigor has long gone out. The thief-turned-assassin might still escape from the castle dungeon and seduce the king’s daughter in the process but is there really any passion behind it? Something as savory as a good idea (or chocolate) cannot be left in a box. It must be used while life (or flavor) still remains! Did the thief escape by galloping through the gates on the princess’s favorite palfrey or did he creep through the sewers and encounter the hideous lovechild of Cthulhu and the Penguin? Did the chocolate contain almonds or pralines? Ideas cannot sit too long and retain their flavor, nor can chocolate. But if chocolate is gobbled down in a few days or if a few hours are dedicated to Chasan the Charmer’s selfish-but-awesome exploits, then the chocolate and idea might be spent but you will have the feeling of having consumed top grade chocolate or having produced a harrowing adventure for all to read.
See? Candy links the Universe.