Friday, May 4, 2012

The doughnut lesson



Yesterday I talked about aging – again. Obviously one of my favourite blog topics and will likely continue to be as the rot process carries merrily along. I just wanted to say how much I loved your comments. I think everybody who chimed in feels pretty much the same about our age and our looks and how it's what's inside that really counts.

Last night this point was driven home to me by, surprise, my very own writing.

I was at my writer's group (my lovely, lovely writer's group – how I love those girls) and reading another chapter of my novel, when I came to the following paragraph. I was dazzled by my own brilliantness. If I was on Oprah, it would be The Doughnut Life Lesson. If I was Forrest Gump I'd be saying, "Life is like a box of doughnuts." 

A doughnut box lay between them, empty save for the one with sprinkles; the one in the variety pack that nobody ever eats. When they were really young, Weezie’s boys would fight over the sprinkle doughnut, dazzled by the bright coloured candy on top. But, once they realized that the sprinkles were as tasty as dust, they started fighting over the less ostentatious Boston cream or the ignominious plain old-fashioned. Weezie used the sprinkle doughnut as a lesson in life. “See?” she had told them. “Looks aren’t everything. Remember that when you’re choosing a wife.”

50 comments:

  1. But I like sprinkles! And doughnuts...even though they're donuts. That u g h spells ugh. Who wants that in their donut? :)

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  2. That is a brilliant comparison (is that the right word?)! I love donuts of any kind! Sprinkles or no!

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    1. Brilliant? Oh yeah, JoJo, that is TOTALLY the right word. *smiles smugly*

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  3. Oh boy, old fashions, my favorite! Not so much on the sprinkles. Nice little excerpt, Cathy.
    ~jon

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    1. Mine too! Let's get a box, shall we Jon?
      (And thanks...)

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  4. Excellent!
    Of course, sprinkles on a Boston Cream are a bonus.

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  5. Life is a bit like a donut...you have a choice...you can focus on the hole or on the whole.

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  6. I always had the one with sprinkles (by choice; I should add).

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  7. Never liked Boston Cream yet that is what people always seem to buy for me as a treat - maybe because I hand it right back to them. Never liked the sprinkles either.

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    1. Which is IS your fave, Jeannie? Next time I see you I'll bring you one of those!

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  8. So true!! Although I still go for the sprinkled doughnut over the boston creme.

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    1. Really? Even with all its creamy lusciousness??? Best Boston I've ever had was at Krispy Kreme (which you can't get here in Canucksville). SO GOOD. Like, if an orgasm was a doughnut? It would be squealing at the KK.

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  9. If you want to be happy for the rest of your life....

    http://youtu.be/FKzacHbsBJM

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    1. HA!!!!! My husband's personal philosophy!!!!;)

      If you wanna be happy
      For the rest of your life,
      Never make a pretty woman your wife,
      So from my personal point of view,
      Get an ugly girl to marry you.

      A pretty woman makes her husband look small
      And very often causes his downfall.
      As soon as he marries her, then she starts
      To do the things that will break his heart,
      But if you make an ugly woman your wife,
      You'll be happy for the rest of your life,
      An ugly woman cooks her meals on time,
      She'll always give you peace of mind.

      Don't let your friends say
      You have no taste,
      Go ahead and marry anyway,
      Though her face is ugly,
      Her eyes don't match,
      Take it from me she's a better catch.

      Say man.
      Hey baby.
      I saw your wife the other day.
      Yeah?
      Yeah, she's ugly.
      Man, she's ugly but she sure can cook, baby.
      Yeah? Alright...

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  10. Doughnuts are to be avoided like the plague. Indeed looks aren't everything, except when you're in your 20's, but sugar takes your heart away.

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  11. What a perfect analogy. Sprinkles are sort of like make up on an, otherwise uninteresting and not so tasty, doughnut.

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    1. I know, right? It was probably the most brilliant thing that I'll ever think of in my whole life ... and why does it not surprise me that it's connected with food?????????

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  12. Back when I worked like a coolie I lived on courtesty donuts and free coffee. Sigh. Now they don't even taste good. But, that little excerpt is spot on for what donuts really mean.

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    1. That happened to me when I was a teenager - worked at a fast food joint. Couldn't eat pizza for YEARS.

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  13. my whole family, young and old, doesn't like the sprinkles! And I do feel the same as before, this is why I don't look in mirrors. Who is that person....she looks a little familiar...oh yes.....I forgot...my hair got gray and the inside corners of my eyes are looking a bit different these days. And why is there one line on my upper lip coming down from my nose...on the one side?! One line makes it Not symmetrical...I should have symmetrical wrinkles. And that pesky mole that is supposed to be called a 'beauty mark', it wants to grow hairs nowadays! I don't really care but now I have to get out the tweezers so that I won't be afraid that people might stare at it. It requires work and that is what I resent...if I didn't have to go out in public and work then it would not matter. Bah.
    Good analogy, sprinkles are show. I like the ones with the raspberry filling...or maple bars.

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    1. Gosh darnnit, EVERYTHING wants to grow hair now! Everything but my HEAD!
      (mmmmmm Maple bars)

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  14. That is an amazingly well constructed and executed paragraph. Really nicely done. I want to know if he picked the right wife now!

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    1. Thanks Heather! And judging from the blog lurking I did at yours just now, I take that as a compliment from someone who knows what she's talking about. *beaming*

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  15. I am very much like a Boston creme... round, squishy, full of good stuff, slightly frosted, and from Massachusetts. :)

    I guess Tony chose well.

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  16. thank you for your comment
    it helped my friend
    x

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  17. I'm not a fan of iced/sprinkled doughnuts - but I love the jam-filled ones; you just never know which bite's going to bring out the goodies! ;-)

    I think Weezie had it spot-on; when all the effort is ploughed into the exterior there might not be much substance beneath ! (attn. all those air-head models/celebrities...!)

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  18. Always go for the Boston Cream... the sweet, soft inside is the best part.

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  19. Cinnamon and sugar. Every two or three years. Or so. I like the analogy much better than donuts. Though I am a bit bothered by the concept of choosing a wife with the same care as a donut. I sadly fear I would remain in the box. Either way. Scary.

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    1. Pffffft.... in the box... pffffft ... I'm positive you'd be gobbled first.

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  20. Now I want doughnuts! Anyway, great story, and I like your blog. Follower #400!

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    1. LG, you cannot BELIEVE how happy your follow made me. I was dancing around the kitchen, wooting, high-fiving everyone, hugging my hubby and kids, just generally making an ASS outta myself. So thanks so much!!!!
      HUGS!!!!

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  21. Love this. My son loves donuts--and is starting to like girls. I shall share your wisdom with him. Peace...

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    1. He'll look at you like a bug, I'm sure but I find my kids will listen to anything I say if I buy them treats first. (The gist of our convo might not sink in but at least they smile and nod.)

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  22. The rot process.....oh, I'm stealing that one.

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  23. Holy crap, lady, that's brilliant. So, when do we get to read this novel?

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