What are you sure about? For me it comes down to two pieces of candy.

You see, I can size up a box of See’s candy from a mile away. It’s not the most useful skill, but one I involuntarily developed at a young age, seizing select candy before my mother’s sweet tooth devoured everything or my brother started brokering deals for the good chocolates. There was no time in my family for noncommittal tasting. For me, candy assessment and retrieval is now almost a reflex, a quick in and out job to be done only for high payoff. I am stealth and fast. I am not greedy. I am focused.

Part of me wishes I could apply this honed skill to the rest of my life. Knowing exactly what has the highest value, where it is, and how to get it. More importantly, I know I will like it – a lot. But, I realize it is See’s that has created this perfect situation for me – and, as a customer, for them.

I’d hate to know how many boxes and pieces it has taken to get me to this point (so would my personal trainer). The imprint is strong – I know what’s in the box even if it is wrapped with gold sticker-seals at each end. I can tell what the flavor is by shape, color, and decoration. I see when a piece has been moved from its rightful position. If See’s has ever changed packaging, placement, or recipe, I haven’t noticed. To me a flawless consistency has enabled my hawk-like candy seeking abilities, year after year and box after box. With a glance, I instantly recognize if it’s worth the effort to dig in. Regrettably, on this day, I knew that it wasn’t.