The Post Office in Hampden had an open house yesterday and today. A few plates of Christmas cookies, donuts, and candy were set out on the back counter, with cider and coffee available as well. This morning, mom, dad and I headed into town to get the mail and so that mom could mail her Christmas letters. I had decided that I’d wait on breakfast and just forage from the cookies and donuts.

Good call. The mail was a little late in arriving so we had lots of time to kill. Since the store/cafe wasn’t open today, the Post Office was the place to meet for food, and so dad and I hovered around the Christmas goodies while mom chatted with other people also waiting for their mail.

Few breakfast foods can compete with Mexican wedding cookies, sugar cookies, cake donuts, and a continued assortment that I’m ashamed to admit scarfing down.

As we were finally preparing to leave, my winter survival skills kicked in.

“I’d better take some for the road,” I said. “Just in case.”

I grabbed a few more candies and dad moved closer to the plate of cookies yet again. I made a comment about how it was so typical to find us attached to the Christmas cookie buffet table, and that it was no surprise we’d be filling our pockets with such things. It was at that moment that mom wandered over and grabbed another cookie.

“One should never put out a plate of goodies when the Neidlingers come to town,” I said as we walked out to the car. “We hit those trays pretty hard.”

“Put out a plate of carrots and celery instead,” Dad said. “We wouldn’t touch it.”

Mom didn’t say anything. She was busy eating cookies.