Baking Time

The only size to buy when it's baking day.  Anything else won't make it.

How far to go?

I can't really say I stumbled on this chocolate bar by accident since I always check out the chocolate section when I'm in a store but I was surprised to find a Lindt bar discounted.  One I had never seen before.  It looked pretty good so I bought one of the three there.  Tried it out in the parking lot and immediately went back in for the other two.

Never found the bars again in a store but did on-line.  Shipping was as much as the bar itself and it wasn't discounted there.  Not paying that.  I call Lindt.  "Have the store that you bought it from order it for you."  Okay, back to the store.  Never came in.  I asked a couple of other stores who sell Lindt.  They tried ordering it for me, nothing.  Went back on the website to find that it was no longer listed.

Months later my husband and I are traveling when we stop at the outlet mall two hours from home to take a break from traveling up north.  "Look at that!" I yelled, "A new Lindt store!"  I was out before he came to a complete stop.  I burst through the door.  "I am looking for your Passion bar, Caramel and sea salt." 

"We have that right over here."  YEAAAHH!  "No.  That's not it.  Just Passion.  Not Passion Fruit."

"It's right over here."  Yes!  "No, not the Excellence line with caramel and a touch of sea salt, although that's pretty good.  But the best one is Passion, Caramel and sea salt."

"It's right over here."  "Where?"  We both look at the table he has taken me to.  Finally he picks up a small placard, that he shows me, that reads: Passion.  Caramel and sea salt.  Half price.

"This sounds like it but where is it?"  "We're out."  "You have some in the back though, right?"  Surely I have not come this close . . .

"I'm sorry ma'am, we are all out.  We should have some more in next week.  Why don't I get your name and number and we'll call you."  I give him my card and leave somewhat disappointed but still, it's coming.  I'm close.

Two weeks later I call.  No, still not in.  A month later.  It's in and this is the last that they are going to be getting it.  NO!   "Okay, how many boxes do you have?"  "Two and they're half off."  "How much is a box?"  He tells me.  "I'll take one but I don't know how soon I can get up there."  "We'll hold it for you."

I find my husband reading a book.  "What day would you like to travel to Frankenmuth?"  "Why?"  While I am formulating the best, honest response that will get me there, he has already read my face.  "Your chocolate is in, isn't it?"  "Yes, isn't that wonderful?  And they are never going to have it there again so we're only going to go the one time."  "Two hours up there and two hours back," he looks at me.  "Is there a problem?"  "Do you know how much gas is?"  "Yeah, but we're talking chocolate here."  The book goes back up.

Fine.  I call the store back.  "Can you ship that to me?"  "We don't ship."  Great.  "Still formulating a plan.  Do not put those bars out on the floor.  They are still in the back room, right?"  "Yes, ma'am."

As I decide what to do next I hear my daughter come home.  Oh!  "Hey, don't you have a college friend that lives up near the outlet mall?"  "She used to but she moved last week. She's a good hour away by now."  "Rats!"  "Why -- no.  You are not still going on about those chocolate bars, are you?  Give it up."  "They're being discontinued!  I'll never taste it again.  I should have taken both boxes.  I could kick myself.  Maybe I should call them back . . ."  "You're not going to let this go, are you?"  "How about if you and I drive --"   "I'll ask Ann to do it."  "How close does Ann live?"  Ann is her friend that she's known since middle school.  "Twenty minutes."  "Call her, call her now."  With a roll of the eyes, she does.

"She says she'll do it.  And you're in luck.  She's coming home to see her family next weekend."  I call the store.  "I have someone coming in the next week so I'll just charge this and she can --"  "We don't take charges."  "What?  She's a college student she can't afford to buy that and wait to have me reimburse her."  "I suggest you send her a check, she can cash it and then come in with the money."  "Okay, I'll do that.  But it's been almost a month.  Are you sure you still have my box in the back."  "Lady, there is a piece of paper stapled to the bag and written in red in big letters it says: Do Not Touch.  I promise you it's back there."  "Great.  Thank you.  Any more on the floor?"  "They're gone."

"Ann's not going to forget to pick up my chocolate before she comes down, is she?"  "She's coming here to the house.  She doesn't dare."  The day of Ann's arriving.  "There has been a change of plans.  I'm meeting her in town for lunch."  "She forgot my chocolate!"  "Mom, not everything revolves around you and your chocolate!  This is just convenient for her.  She came to see her family, not to bring you chocolate."  "Do you know for sure that she has it on her?"  "No."  "She forgot it."

An hour later I receive a text from my daughter.  'You can breathe again Ann brought your chocolate.  I have it.'

I am trying my best to only eat one bar a month to prolong the great taste but so far I haven't been able to do it although I did stretch one bar out to two weeks.  I have no idea why this bar wasn't a best seller other than the fact that I only saw those 3 bars in one store. 

I have friends who in their travels have looked for me.  In fact, I've received a few phone calls, "Okay, the bar says . . ."  "Nope, that's not it but thanks for looking."  And thank you Ann!