Being officially quarantined for two weeks is no picnic, but often it’s the little things in life that help you get by. As we sat numb through day three, four, and then five, my akamai nephew and his equally wonderful wife dropped off small gifts with big implications. Sometimes, the seemingly insignificant can keep us grounded, hopeful, and present. Sometimes, that which seems trivial can be a perfect solution.
And so it was when they dropped off Ding Dongs and Ho Hos. Defined as “small, cylindrical, frosted, cream-filled chocolate snack cakes with a pinwheel design”, Ho Hos are so much more. A timeline that reverberates deep within my very being. After scarfing down a Mom-crafted, lunchtime sandwich in junior high school, Ho Hos were an indulgent, dessert treat. And unlike those other delightful offerings (Twinkies, Sno balls, Ding Dongs) Ho Hos came three to a pack!
Yeh, perhaps the questionable Vaseline-like texture of Ho Hos preclude their stature atop the food pyramid… but come on. There’s soul food, and then there’s food for the soul. And we can all use some nostalgic padding nowadays to help us through the hellish harshness of 2020, right!
As I ate the savory, chocolate offering, I also reflected on my 15-years of AYSO coaching, when the big deal on Saturdays was not reflecting on a win or a loss, but rather- what’s for snack?! I often opted for Ho Hos or Ding Dongs. The simple onomatopoeia when I said “Ho Hos” or “Ding Dongs” was usually enough to get my minions laughing out loud. And then I would add, “Ding Dongs… because you guys (girls) are a bunch of ding dongs!”- a sure crowd pleaser.
Whether it’s shave ice, ahi poke, gazing out at your favorite beach while reminiscing about body surfing ‘til sunset, it’s OK to immerse yourself in nostalgia and trivia; exercise the vast recesses of your now-adult mind. When I hear The Beatles’ “Yesterday” (the most covered pop song of all-time), I’m back in 4th grade, wishing Liz Nathan would pay more attention to me and less to my pals- Joey and Larry. Alas, it wasn’t to be.
We need more safe escapes today, perhaps more than ever, and you house some of them within your mind. Ho Hos take me back to gentler times- 25 or even 55 years ago- and when I return, I’m convinced that it’s really gonna be OK.
Think about it…