Dear Kid,

Once upon a time, we did not live in the Midwest. When we moved here, we discovered a holiday called Sweetest Day. I assumed it was a Hallmark Holiday, a day created out of nothing as an excuse to sell more cards, chocolate, heart holding teddy bears, and angst.

Today I learned (TIL if you’re a Reddit fan) the truth about Sweetest Day.

Sweetest Day was originally created in 1921 by C. C. Hartzell and 12 others (all candy makers in Cleveland). The Sweetest Day in the Year Committee distributed over 20,000 boxes of candy to “newsboys, orphans, old folks, and the poor” in order to brighten up their day and show them that someone cared.

So what I thought was a made-up, ridiculous holiday is a made-up, wonderful idea that is now being exploited by candy makers, card vendors, florists, and sellers of heart holding teddy bears. Note: This year, Sweetest Day is October 19. Try to remember to at least blow a kiss in your mother’s general direction.

“Why,” you say, “are you talking about Sweetest Day when it is over a week away?”

Good question. Fortunately, I have a good answer. Sunday, as in the day after tomorrow, is (are you ready for this?) the Cincinnati Chocolate Festival. The photos here (which I did not take, but which look so good that I’m pretty sure I’ve gained about 17 pounds just looking at them) are from last year’s festival. I just framed them because all that gorgeous chocolate deserves a gorgeous frame, don’t you think?

I asked Pi if she was interested in going this year. “Is that even a question????!!???” she asked. Which, given that we’re talking about chocolate, is a pretty reasonable response that I interpreted to mean “heck, yeah, let’s go!”

As I understand it, one can sample chocolate, buy chocolate (perhaps even buy chocolate for Sweetest Day), smell chocolate, and heaven only knows what else. If you were here, I would be delighted to take you, but as you are off in college world it will be logistically difficult. Pi and I will be delighted to eat some chocolate for you as your teeth are rather new. (Extra points if you get the reference.)

Tonight is football versus Colerain. It should be a great night for football weather-wise (I’m ignoring weather.com) but I rather suspect it will be a nail-bitter of a game. Yark!

Can’t wait to see you tomorrow at the regatta (my first crew regatta! very exciting).

Love, Mom

Binker by A. A. Milne (extra points if you remembered that A. A. Milne also wrote all the Pooh stories)

Binker-what I call him-is a secret of my own,
And Binker is the reason why I never feel alone.
Playing in the nursery, sitting on the stair,
Whatever I am busy at, Binker will be there.

Oh, Daddy is clever, he’s a clever sort of man,
And Mummy is the best since the world began,
And Nanny is Nanny, and I call her Nan-

But they can’t See Binker.

Binker’s always talking, ‘cos I’m teaching him to speak
He sometimes likes to do it in a funny sort of squeak,
And he sometimes likes to do it in a hoodling sort of roar…
And I have to do it for him cos his throat is rather sore.

Oh, Daddy is clever, he’s a clever sort of man,
And Mummy knows all that anybody can,
And Nanny is Nanny, and I call her Nan-

But they don’t Know Binker.

Binker’s brave as lions when we’re running in the park;
Binker’s brave as tigers when we’re lying in the dark;
Binker’s brave as elephants. He never, never cries…
Except (like other people) when the soap gets in his eyes.

Oh, Daddy is Daddy, he’s a Daddy sort of man,
And Mummy is as Mummy as anybody can,
And Nanny is Nanny,and I call her Nan…

But they’re not Like Binker.

Binker isn’t greedy, but he does like things to eat,
So I have to say to people when they’re giving me a sweet,
“Oh, Binker wants a chocolate, so could you give me two?”
And then I eat it for him, cos his teeth are rather new.

Well, I’m very fond of Daddy, but he hasn’t time to play,
And I’m very fond of Mummy, but she sometimes goes away,
And I’m often cross with Nanny when she wants to brush my hair…

But Binker’s always Binker, and is certain to be there.