Sweetness And Cheer On A Monday

As a tonic to the morbid, fairly gruesome tone of my earlier post, allow me to tell you this quaint, charming story that will make your heart go, "Awwww...":

My friend Amy and I walk every morning from Union Square to our office in Midtown. We do this because she's a healthy, fit person and I, despite repeated protests and an intense amount of whining, would like to be a healthy, fit person, too. Or, at least, I'd like to not die when I'm in my early 40's because my heart is packed solid with beef fat and rich, dairy-quality butter. Anyway, I always get to Union Square at 8:15am, because I'm punctual like that, and Amy is always late because, though she may be healthy and fit, she couldn't be on time to save her life. Usually, I just sit and read until she decides to grace me with her presence, but today (since the book I'm currently reading is depressing and not fun to read early in the morning) I decided to take a stroll through the Union Square Greenmarket.

Side Note: If you live in New York and you're not a fan of the Greenmarket, then I hate you. It is awesome, and they have apple cider donuts that are truly epic.

Sadly, they did not have any apple cider donuts this morning (Girlfriend, I assure you I'd have bought you some, had they been available), so I was about to head back to Amy and I's usual meeting spot when I spotted quite possibly the sweetest elderly couple I've ever seen. They were standing behind a table full of their wares, baked goods mostly, and they were all bundled up in their scarves and wool caps and, as they stood there, his arm around her shoulders, both smiling, they were pretty much the best advertisement "falling in love and growing old together" ever had. Drawn in by their warmth, I strolled over and perused their offerings. Truthfully, it all looked top notch, but I ended up selecting a Pumpkin Cookie with Crystallized Ginger. The woman smiled at me, genuinely and with grandmotherly love, and the man stood stoically and handsomely by her side. I payed for the cookie and I walked away, happy that at the very least I'd given some money to what seemed like nice people.

Then I took a bite of my cookie. Holy. Shit. It was like taking in a mouthful of Autumn; it was harvests and fireplaces and mounds of fallen leaves and chilly walks through forests, all baked into a soft, moist treat that only cost me a dollar. It was, in short, cookie magic. The only thing, and I mean the only thing that I've tasted recently that tops this cookie was Girlfriend's Sticky Toffee Pudding, which, omigod (slobber), but that's a post for another time.

I went back immediately and bought another and there were smiles all around and good cheer bursting forth from that single booth in Union Square. It was really awesome and I recommend everyone start their dreary Mondays by purchasing cookies from sweet, elderly couples at the Union Square Greenmarket.

Perks one up better than a cup of coffee, for damn sure, and it just makes you feel all fuzzy-wuzzy with joy. Everyone needs that, every now and again.