Last year my wife went to Berlin on a research trip and I was stuck at home. To make me feel better she brought back a suitcase of weapons grade licorice. I’ve savored it over the months and my supply is almost out but there’s one item I can’t bring myself to eat. Its a package of 3 sweet cream licorice bars (like chocolate bars, but licorice flavored instead of chocolate flavored). I can think of few treats I’d rather eat. Cruelly, the package of this is so perfect that I can’t imagine destroying it for the temporary pure joy of eating. I’m happy to share the packaging with you, fortunately you can’t upload the taste of licorice to my webhost.
The printing is a classic early 20th century advertising vernacular reminscent of the Beggarstaffs or Lucien Bernard. The gold ink complements the simple flat red and black that make up an image that connotes exoticism and luxury through the most modern of conveyances, the steam ship. Once opened we are presented with a handsome if somewhat disconcerting trademark of an enormous licorice plant taking root on the earth. On the reverse side is a wonderfully confident description of the licorice that starts by comparing the product to mother’s milk and finishes with a reminder to breath. Beneath that lies the second image of the steamer, perfectly aligned to sail across the horizontal seam of simple, delicate wax paper that envelops the object of our desire. The proportions of the three thin bars are a beautiful, balanced golden rectangle. Each is molded with the image of the steam ship. You can see that my excitement got the best of me and I was unable to adequately frame this last picture. Immediately after I took this final photograph I quickly slipped the licorice back into its beautiful case lest I be overwhelmed with the urge to sample these precious bars of pure joy and forever mar the effect of their perfect beauty.
Critical Notes
Being a segment where I provide means by which you [the reader] are encouraged to remark, annotate, provoke, correct, rejoin, laud, or admonish the preceeding sentiment or incident. Communications impertinent to the aforementioned, including general threats of violence or love letters should be forwarded to me personally.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 6:36 pm
From the computer of [Jacob F.]
Life’s beauty is found within our experiences. The quality and richness of our lives is ultimately derived from the effect each little ping of experience has upon the trajectory of the whole. Eat one bar, enjoy it and savor it. To my thinking, that enjoyment isn’t temporary or destructive but a lasting realization of their truest potential. Now your admiration of the remaining bars is not limited to their visual beauty, but is augmented with the intimate experience of taste, touch and smell. Courtly love is noble and grand, sure, but what’s love without getting your hands a little dirty?
Besides, if I made food like what would I think of some wise guy in Brooklyn who refused to eat it just because it’s wrapped up pretty? Their craft is being mistreated here.
[Jacob F.]
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 6:23 am
From the computer of [jeffcoppage]
so where is the “made in china”?
[jeffcoppage]
Wednesday, July 29, 2009 7:01 am
From the computer of Noah E Miller
Dear Jacob,
That was so beautifully stated. Some day I’ll learn. I think what I appreciate about these things is the potential for joy. When I look at this box I can’t imagine that these bars aren’t the best thing I’ll ever taste in my life and I always want to keep that moment in front of me. Sometimes when I eat fruit in the summer I feel the same way. I think “how many more peaches will I eat like this before its too late? I want to remember this peach, not the one I’ll eat next week that is starting to show the end of the season. Its best if I stop here and forget about peaches until next year.”
I frequently think about the people who feel that the best has come and gone (the Jack and Diane effect, you might say). How upsetting it must be! If only we could forget and listen to our favorite records again for the first time or have another first kiss. Luckily I have yet to meet my first child or see the earth from outer space or hold my wife’s hand on our 50th anniversary.
Jeff, such a cynic. I can assure you, this was definitely made by Germans, its too weird to be otherwise. Although in printing, historically speaking, the Chinese are probably the only printers who really have the Germans beat. But just for you, today’s post will be made in China.
Noah E Miller
Saturday, November 7, 2009 7:00 pm
From the computer of gretchen
Well, first off, she should have gotten four so that you could eat one and keep the perfect three. I understand not wanting to eat one and only be left with two. It would feel unfinished.
That being said, you put that in your mouth right now! It’s food, honey. Eat them and keep the package. You don’t let delicious things go to waste, especially licorice! You’re being the guy that won’t talk to the girl he’s dreaming about because she might say something stupid or mean and he’d rather have that perfect image. Well, she’s going to say something stupid, it’s going to happen. But she might say something awesome right after that. Sometimes you have to put having above wanting.
gretchen
WordPress, you-betcha! | RSS: Posts & Comments