Chocolate
Chocolate
Pull up a chair and sit awhile
August 24, 2026
Dear Friend:
I have a confession to make. I'm a chocoholic. It doesn't matter how I get my chocolate fix, as long as it's chocolate. I inherited that trait from my dad.
The day my Dad passed away we were sitting at the house with my Mom reminiscing about all the good times with my Dad. The subject of his love of chocolate came up and my sister joked that Hershey Chocolate stock was going to take a dip because they lost a great customer. And yes, you guessed it, Hershey Chocolate’s stock did in fact take a dip that day.
After trick-or-treating, we'd dump our candy out on the table and immediately start sorting through it. I always looked for the chocolate first. Not that other candy wasn’t good, it just wasn’t chocolate. Then there was the inevitable bartering with my siblings. Of course my siblings also liked chocolate, it was a thing in my family. So bartering for one piece of chocolate meant giving up 2 or 3 pieces of other candy. It was okay with me.
Going to Hershey park was always an extra treat for me. As soon as you entered Hershey, PA you were delighted with the aroma of chocolate. I so wanted to move to Hershey! Imagine being treated to the smell of chocolate every day! The Hershey Chocolate Factory tour was actually a ride through displays of how the chocolate is produced. At the end of the ride they gave you a free Hershey bar. When I was a child I was not interested in how the chocolate was made, just the free candy bar at the end.
For our birthday we could pick our favorite meal and favorite flavor of cake and icing. You guessed it, my favorite cake was chocolate with….white icing. Surprised? Most people are. Here is the point. I could have chosen chocolate icing but even as a youngster I realized that Vanilla enhances flavor, it brought out the flavor of the chocolate cake. Must have been all that time in the kitchen with my mother.
Today, I have a bit of chocolate every day, even if it is as small as M&M’s. I sometimes will treat myself to a chocolate milkshake or even chocolate milk. Of course in the cold weather it is usually hot chocolate with marshmallows.
Looking back I am glad for all the traits I inherited from my Dad, especially this one. Sometimes I wonder if God allows us to inherit little pieces of our parents so their memory stays with us every day. The traits we inherit are the ones we most cherish.
Until next time, stay well, stay safe, and stay connected to those you love.
Be well,
Emma
Emma is the voice behind Sharing with Seniors, where every story starts with a memory. Through stories of family, friendships, music, traditions, hometowns, and life's simple pleasures, she invites readers to pull up a chair, stay awhile, and remember the moments that have shaped their lives.