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Dear Journal:

I’ve gotten up early to walk the past few mornings.  I like it better before the sun, and the people come out.  It’s cool and quiet.  I only walk a mile or so, but enough to get my heart and legs pumping.      

Oh, one last tale from the weekend.  Sunday morning, I walked back to the park (mom and dad were at church, and Michelle was still asleep).  I forgot my phone and, by the time I realized it, I was a hundred yards from the house.  I didn’t feel like going back, so I pressed on without it.  I thought it would suck not having my music, but it was kind of nice just listening to the birds and the breeze.

Two girls were playing on the playground.  I could tell right away they were sisters.  One, a pudgy little thing, kept running after the other, incessantly yelling, “Mia, wait!” while the older child (Mia, presumably) ignored her, racing around the monkey bars and up and down the slide.   I felt bad for the younger girl.  All she wanted to do was spend time with her sister, but was instead forced into a cruel game of catch me if you can.

Before long, I was getting stink-eyed by the girls’ mother, who sat reading on a nearby bench.  Apparently, a teenager in the park without a cellphone was suspicious.  Anyway, I didn’t want to get added to the neighborhood watch list, so I left. 

I walked on, feeling sad.  I wasn’t sure why.  For the little girl?  Society?  Myself?  I was still ruminating on things when I stopped by Starbucks.  I got a tea for myself and, in the spirit of sisterly love, a venti Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino for Michelle.

If I’m ever going to catch the perennial “it” girl in our little familial game of tag, I’m going to need to slow her down some!

--Jessie

Comments

Nacho

In case anyone’s curious, a Venti Caramel Ribbon Crunch Frappuccino has a little under 600 calories and around 85 grams of sugar in it. Even if we’re generous with Michelle’s daily exercise (which seems to be getting lower and lower each day, if it’s even still happening at all), that’s still probably a third of her TDEE, or base metabolic rate (the amount of calories one needs to eat under to avoid gaining weight, usually 2000 calories for your standard adult). I do know that Starbucks now goes one size above Venti, too, a “trenta”, and that would’ve easily been over 700 calories, but maybe Jessie doesn’t want to be too heavy handed too soon. Cheerio!

Maverick and Riptoryx

Thanks for the caloric breakdown, Nacho. I Googled Starbucks' menu as I was writing this entry, and that drink jumped out as being sinfully decadent. Glad the nutritional value (or lack thereof) bears that out!

Nacho

It’s interesting that you mention sinful, given that I feel this story has a deep amount of religious motifs. It begins on Easter Sunday, the family goes to church, and the Easter candy is eaten despite “gluttony” being a sin. This raises a decent point, which is that I think gluttony, at least for someone like Michelle, is probably the most self sabotaging sin there is. Pride and lust (which she seems to have in droves) only seems to boost confidence and social status. Gluttony is the one thing that actually has the most negative material impacts beyond the sin itself. It reminds me of a story by AdiposeAdorer called “the devil and little Lucy” which is a bit more explicit about the religious motifs. Interesting stuff regardless, hope things ramp up in future. I particularly enjoyed the description of the night shirt two entries ago. An expert as always, cheerio.

Maverick and Riptoryx

Thanks, Nacho. For the kind words and for elucidating to me about Starbucks' new 30-ounce "Big Gulp" equivalent. I couldn't resist incorporating it into the latest installment.