Commercial triggers year-long anticipation

By Bob Belcher

It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year!

It’s a season of giving and sharing, one of giving thanks, and one of holding family and friends close.

It’s very nearly “that” time of year — Jingle Bells and Ho, Ho, Ho!

And, my all-time holiday favorite treat!

What, may you ask, would that be?

Patience, grasshopper, patience ...

There is a cute TV commercial running now for a snack cake company — Little Debbie. You’ve probably seen it, where they have decorated that tiny little vehicle called the “Smart Car” as a Little Debbie Chocolate Cupcake.

With all due respect and admiration to our local automobile dealers, that is one cute little car! And, decorated like a cupcake — complete with the “swirl” of icing on the top — it is sure to turn a head or two when driving by. Some marketing exec somewhere deserves some kudos for that idea.

But, I digress ...

It’s not the Little Debbie Chocolate Cupcakes, or the Little Debbie Football Brownies that our Michael Kormos passed around the office this week, that is my all-time favorite treat.

It is almost “Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cake” season!

In the words of the wise old sage, Sam Thompson, “Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!”

I can’t think of a single holiday treat that I anticipate more every year than that silly little tree-shaped cake, complete with white icing and red and green sprinkles.

And, despite what my lovely bride of 33 years tries to tell me, those delightful cakes are not the same cake recipe used in every other cupcake that Little Debbie makes! I can tell by the taste! It’s just not the same! You can’t convince me otherwise!

And, like those insane info-mercials that they are still running with the late Billy Mays, “Wait, there’s more!”

On the back of each package of the Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes you’ll find several festive “gift tags” you can cut out and use for your holiday gift giving!

Delicious Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes with free gift tags! How can you beat a deal like that?

“OK, Belcher,” you are probably saying to yourselves about right now. What’s the big deal about a lousy little cupcake. Enough, already!

And, yes, I have gone on and on about a silly little treat that probably means nothing special to most of the population.

It’s a little thing.

But right here in “River City” that we call home, that little, silly cupcake could actually be more than some families in our town will even have for the holidays.

Think on that one for a minute. Because, it’s true.

So, as you are making your plans for the upcoming holiday season, visiting your favorite markets and selecting your holiday treats, remember those to whom a small, insignificant thing like a cake mix, or a few cans of soup or chili, might be the most important “gift” on their list this year — and a way to feed their family for another day.

Situations like that are unfortunately a sad reality in our present-day situation. And the need is greater than it’s ever been, right here at home.

I know Navarro County is generous, sometimes to a fault.

Let’s throw out all the stops this year and do what we all can to help out the various entities that provide help to our needy families — not only for the holidays, but year round as well.

If you don’t know how to help, call me. I’ll get you pointed in the right direction.

Like that silly little cupcake — it’s a small thing, that to some individual, can be a big, big thing.

Please help.

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Bob Belcher is Managing Editor of the Daily Sun. His column appears on Sundays.

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