Chocolate Love

I think this pretty much says it all. It’s February. Around here, some people refer to the month as “Suckuary.” Actually, I’m rather fond of the month. For starters, I like snow, and I also like Valentine’s Day -- despite having some really, truly crappy Valentine’s Days.

But when you get right down to it, I like seeing pictures of chocolate plastered on everything, because there’s not a whole lot that chocolate can’t make a little better.

A few days ago I had my spinal guru crack my neck. I hate having that done. It scares the crap out of me, that explosion just under my brain, and it’s never nice putting your head in someone’s hands to have your neck potentially broken. But the real reason I think I hate having my neck cracked is the emotional release. I sob uncontrollably every single time, and I have no idea why. I’m not the only one who does this when having her neck cracked, but I nevertheless feel a profound sense of embarrassment.

The therapist and his assistant, however, have seen it all before. When I came out, snorting into a tissue, Toni (the assistant) just sort of looked up at me under her eyebrows.

“I guess he got it, huh? Are you crying from physical pain, or emotional pain?”

“Oh, emotional (sniff). Definitely.”

“Well, that’s good then,” she said matter of factly. “Would you like some chocolate?”

And it suddenly occurred to me that yes, I most definitely wanted some chocolate. Very much. It was an odd, Harry Potter sort of moment, receiving dark chocolate to alleviate my emotional trauma, but it was the perfect thing. Chocolate is like that.

Sometimes just looking at chocolate is soothing. In the midst of diagnosing some food allergies (yeah, I know; some days I’m surprised I can even walk) one of MP’s cooking magazines arrived in the mail. I opened it to a piece entitled “Chocolate Desserts on Demand,” and then… Nothing. Absolutely nothing happened or disturbed my universe until realized I’d been staring at a photo of flourless chocolate cake with chocolate glaze for ten minutes without blinking. I found that magazine again, and, even now, staring at that fudgy wedge of confection on a smooth white plate…

… Huh? So, um, yeah… It may be Suckuary and darn cold where you are, but there’s no reason to be miserable. Close your eyes. Have a small square of dark chocolate. If that’s not possible for one reason or another, then indulge in some chocolate “porn” and drool over these treats: a beautifully frosted cake, delectable bon-bons, or incredibly cute chocolate shoes. Check out the confectioners’ links under Café Tor’s “You might also like…” selection for some amazing chocolate possibilities.

February is only 28 days -- enjoy it while it's here.