It was after dinner and I had just finished putting the last glass in the dishwasher. I looked around, checking to make sure the counter tops were clean, when I decided it was time to give myself a little treat. I reached into the cabinet and took out a small juice glass.
My son Alex came into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator.
“What are you looking for?” I asked as I stood next to him and took out the carton of egg nog.
Alex shook his head. “I don’t know. Just wanted to see what we had.”
I put the egg nog on the counter and went to the cabinet to get a small bottle of brandy. Then went over to the spice shelf and grabbed the nutmeg. “You know we literally just finished dinner.”
Alex closed the refrigerator and went over to the cabinet. “I know, but I’m still hungry.”
“Why didn’t you just have more dinner?”
Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I didn’t want anymore.”
I looked over at him. “You didn’t like dinner?”
“No. I’m not saying that.” Alex patted me on the shoulder. “I was just done having it. I’m ready for something else now.”
He watched as I poured a splash of brandy into the glass then filled the rest of the glass with egg nog and finished my creation with two taps of nutmeg. I held up the glass. “This is such a treat!”
Alex laughed. “I know. You’ve been giving yourself one of those treats every night for the past week!”
I laughed as I took a sip. “You’ve been counting?”
“I wasn’t until we were on a walk the other day and you were complaining that you’d gained a pound in the last week.”
I took another sip. “You know, you’re right.” I looked at the glass. “This is the only thing that’s changed in my diet.” I held it up to Alex. “But it’s so tiny.”
Alex grabbed the carton from the counter top. “Do you know what in this?”
I took another sip. “Besides yummyness?”
Alex laughed. “Is that even a word?”
“It is now.” I licked a few specks of nutmeg from the rim of the glass.
Alex began reading the ingredients. “Milk, cream, high fructose corn syrup, sugar…”
“Okay! Okay! I get it.” I put the glass down. “But it’s such a tiny glass.” I sighed.
“It’s 190 calories for a half a cup.” He looked over at my glass. “That’s at least a cup.”
“Fine.” I sighed again. “I guess giving myself a holiday treat should be over now.”
Alex shook the carton. “Really? There’s still more in here.”
I took the carton from him and put it back in the refrigerator. “That’s true. It’s not right to waste things.” I picked up my glass and drank the rest of it.” I went over to the sink to rinse the glass out before putting it in the dishwasher. “Let’s say my holiday treat is done when the carton is empty.”
Alex shook his head. “It’s up to you. You were the one complaining about gaining weight.”
“Hey, it’s the holiday season.” I turned around and leaned against the counter. “Losing weight is what January is all about.”
Slice of Life 