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Highlands Today

Where Smelling Is A Pleasure

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By Norm Cukras | Highlands Today

Published: September 13, 2008

It's disturbing to see any business go out of business. The closing of Albertson's is even more distressing because of the number of people who felt that the supermarket provided a more than friendly atmosphere to their shopping experience. However there may just be a silver lining to this particular business failing: Publix is opening in Albertson's place.

While I on occasion shopped at Albertson's, I especially liked their live lobster tank. My primary food store of choice has always been Publix. I got enticed into shopping at the supermarket through their down-home family oriented commercials. Particularly those aired around the holidays. How could you not be convinced that "shopping is a pleasure" at a store that features an enduring loving relationship between personified salt and pepper shakers – without a word being spoken?

And as you wander through the store you can tell by the smell that there is a bakery on the premises. I think one of my comfort zones is in the aisle of a Publix bakery. It's where smelling is a pleasure originates.

The aroma of fresh baked bread evokes memories of the childhood kitchen. It didn't matter if the bread was made from scratch or premixed it was still mom-made and it smelled good. And Publix brings back those days of yesteryear for me. Sadly, yea, though I walk through the shadow of the sensory-pleasing place I find myself dreaming of the days when I had no concern for my cholesterol level or other weighty matters. That, I believe, is why the aroma of fresh-baked breads and the vision of freshly made pastries are so appealing to me – it's all my diets will allow.

Still I'm convinced it's my place to shop - and smell.

And while we regret the passing of a competitive shopping alternative we can feel some relief that it is being replaced by a name we've come to trust.

A Sign Of The Times

The Calvary Church over on Hammock Road had this clever message posted recently: "We pray for rain, and then grumble when we get it. What must God think?"

Isn't that the truth? I'm sure that we must keep Him in wonderment over a lot of the things we do. Especially during election times: we pray for our candidate to win, then grumble about his or her performance. What indeed must He think?

And I wonder what He must think when he reads people's blogs or watches our TV shows.

Are You Ready?

Ho hum. The new fall season of TV programs is about to begin. I'm sorry but I've got so many really important things to remember that I've completely forgotten every single one of those "must see" "Who Shot JR?" copycat season ending cliffhangers. And what about the season finales I missed, like NCIS and Boston Legal? Am I going to understand the long anticipated season premier or do I have wait for the second show to get back into the swing of things? It's no wonder I'm not looking forward to the coming weeks. The options are mind-boggling. Maybe I'll just dust off a DVD from my old movie collection and pay homage to the late Orville Redenbacher with a big bowl of his gourmet popping corn.

Speaking of Orville, I noticed that he has been reincarnated for a rather controversial new commercial. Not bad for a guy who would have been 101 last July. Orville, by the way, appeared in his first popcorn commercial in 1976, the same year he sold his company to Hunt-Wessen Foods. His grandson Gary joined him in the folksy sale pitches in 1987. The duo clicked and was rather impressive. And I imagine Orville, who died in 1995, used Gary because he had two daughters neither of whom would have look the part in Orville's trademark bowtie and glasses. I wonder what ever happened Gary? Perhaps he's back in Brazil, Ind., where his granddad was born.

Overheard

Overheard at the checkout counter: When I was asked where I wanted my Social Security check auto-deposited I gave them my doctor's address.

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