On Sunkists and Impulses

I am not one that is prone to impulse purchases. You know, while standing on line at the grocery store or even a department store there’s something that catches your eye and you buy it. The whole theory behind its purpose, the thought behind its location, you bought into that (no pun intended). But I, I’m not one for spontaneity, for instinct. And so, I have a purpose in coming to your establishment and you cannot sway me. Until the exception.

This afternoon I went shopping without anything specific goal or purpose. It was a last minute invitation to spend some time with a friend. While on line to check out, we took a look at all the glitzy merchandise that they are tempting us to buy impulsively. And I just picked each thing up and laughed at the item, the price or the whole idea. And then I saw it. Sunkists. The round, chewy candy from my youth. And we bought it. Granted, it wasn’t expensive or useless (unless you consider sugar to be useless), but it was not what we had in mind when we set out to shop.

I’m sure once I start to analyze the correlation, I will learn something earth-shattering about myself or human nature, but for now I will offer just a simple explanation of my deviant behavior. This was the first time in a while that I’ve seen Sunkists, let alone eaten them. When I was young and reckless, they were a favorite treat of mine and I even have some memories associated with the candy. I guess, subconsciously I was trying to reconnect to that era in my life. I was trying to recreate the youthful moments. I gave into whim and smart advertising.

Occasionally, it’s hard to grow up. When we get a chance to hold on for just a moment to that feeling, that sentiment of being fresh and naive, we grab onto it. And then the moment is over and we can go on being mature and responsible adults again. (And in case you’re wondering, it wasn’t worth the calories.)