A Picture a Day - Feb 9, 2012
Too cruel, almost beyond words, is this:
A Daylight Donut.
Once a week my daughter has an appointment across the street from a Daylight Donut shop. Since the appointments are usually in the morning, we stop by and pick up a donut for her to enjoy before her meeting.
Why? Why did I start this habit? I’ve been on a diet made a lifestyle change since last summer and have so far successfully avoided temptation when we stop in. “Just the one donut!” I reply when asked if we want anything else.
But today. Today I allowed myself to peek a little closer into the glass-front counter. Usually I avoid this by staring out the window or pinching myself in the crook of my thumb and forefinger. But today, as I gave into visual temptation, I spied a chocolate donut with toasted coconut.
My God. My God. My favorite of all donuts.
How. Dare. They.
“Anything else?” the girl asked, after my daughter had chosen the Valentine sprinkle vanilla cake donut.
“Um,” I said. “Um.”
Everyone stared at me, the counter girl, my daughter, even, it seemed, the table of old-timers across the room.
“Remember all those miles you ran, those miles you biked!” My good angel screamed. “Remember all the salmon dinners with steamed broccoli? Don’t let all your hard work go to waste.”
The dark angel replied, “Aw screw it. It’s just a donut.”
I bit a thumbnail and said, “No, thanks,” my voice weak.
But when we got to the appointment I made my daughter give me a bite.
Take that, conscience.
