Trefoils = Whole piece bathing suit
The spring like weekend put me on notice that I need to get back in shape for summer—enough with the hot coco and Chai tea and wine with dinner and sugar in my coffee. But then my Girl Scout order came in.
My friend Liz handed me the bag with 2 boxes of Trefoils, 2 boxes Thin Mints, and 1 box of Tagalongs when were having breakfast in town. I’d just eaten a goat cheese omelet but I could barely wait to get in my car to bust open the shortbread. Proust had his Madelines. I have Trefoils. One bite and I’m 11 years old, it’s the same time of year, damp cold but sunny enough to offer a promise of spring and I’m playing “Live in the Trees” with my cousin, Kristin and best friend Amy Maucere. We’d each pick a tree in my yard and practice our interior design skills by decorating it with buckets and dishcloths and stuff from the garage. Then once, we’d set up our pad we’d meet at someone’s “house” for dinner and eat Girl Scout Cookies. When I eat one, like all of us, I’m going back in time. I tell myself it’s ok to eat a bunch so that the memory is less precious and it works. By the sixth (I mean fourth) one I’ve pretty much drained all nostalgia out of that little blonde cookie.
I assume that the Girl Scouts marketing team is wise to this connection and know not to give their recipes an organic/gluten-free makeover. I gave a box away to the boy’s old nanny who came to visit from Brooklyn while I was in-between sitters. I regretted it immediately thinking I’d have to wait an entire year to get more. Then I spent the afternoon hoping she’d forget, but she’s no fool. When I came home the extra box was gone and I tried to convince myself it was a relief. There are only five Trefoils left and I’m trying to restrain myself, like a teenage girl trying not to call her crush.
But five minutes ago, I just bounded into the kitchen and startled David. He was in the pantry and he looked so guilty that I thought he was eating the last cookie. But no, he had made himself a new and newsworthy snack: he had a cup of M&Ms mixed in with pistachios! It’s very good. Pretty much the perfect combo of sweet and salty with crunch. Try it. It’s all happiness with no history.