One year ago, I went to the Miami Book Fair (this week being the anniversary of the event) and they had a Starbucks Van that gave out free samples. One of the free samples was a small cup (bathroom dixie cup sized) of hot chocolate (peppermint, I think) with copious amounts of whipped cream. I waited in a long line for my free sample, and when I finally received it, I threw back my head to drink my hot chocolate shot . . .wherein the whipped cream slid forward against my lips and the hot chocolate fountained down the front of my shirt. I was mortified, to say the least. I spent the next hour looking for a replacement shirt. Once I was cleaned up and heard my next speaker, I decided that I had been cheated, having still not had my peppermint hot chocolate. So I went back to the Starbucks van, waited again in the long line, and . . . .did exactly the same thing all over again. My friends couldn't stop laughing when I showed up with the second hot chocolate sodded shirt, which I wore for the rest of the day.

Sometimes, you have to laugh, to keep from crying.

I hope that when I go back to the fair this Saturday, I will have the willpower to avoid the Starbucks line. But, like the Monkey who won't drop the apple to get his hand out of the jar, I probably won't have that kind of self-control. I will, however, pack up a back-up shirt, just in case.

I wish you the best in cheer, soon.