The Procrastinating Writer

When I was younger, one of the most exciting parts of each holiday season was all of the holiday-specific candy and desserts that only came out that time of year. For me,

• Easter = Chick-shaped Peeps
• Halloween = Candy corn, mellowcreme pumpkins, and the miniature version of any candy (which, in my head, meant they didn’t really have calories in them)
• Christmas = Marshmallow-filled chocolate Santa Clauses and green and red M&Ms
• Valentine’s Day = Conversation hearts
• St. Patrick’s Day = Irish soda bread (OK, that’s not really a candy or dessert, but I did look forward to my mom making it every year.)
• Thanksgiving = Pumpkin pie and pecan pie

But there’s been a trend in recent years ruining the magic of the anticipation of these treats. I first noticed it on Easter when Just Born came out with bunny-shaped Peeps, but I didn’t think too much of it since Peeps were always out then anyway. Sure, they weren’t the Peeps I knew and loved, but I was willing to let it slide.

But then came Valentine’s Day Peeps in the shape of a heart. And Christmas Peeps in the shapes of trees, snowmen, stars, and gingerbread men. And Halloween Peeps that looked like ghosts and pumpkins. And summertime Peeps flavored like lemonade and bubble gum.

Initially, I was geeking out about them being around more than once a year. My Easter-Peeps-buying excursions were getting a little embarrassing (I’d wait until they’d go on sale and then buy like 30 packages so I could eat them for weeks after they were gone from stores.), and knowing they’d soon be coming out again meant I didn’t have to hoard them as much during Easter.

But then the same trend started picking up with the other candy companies. Thematic M&Ms started coming out for every holiday that had a well-known color scheme. Pumpkin pie and pecan pie were appearing in more and more stores year round. Marshmallow-filled chocolate candy started appearing in all kinds of shapes for every major holiday. There was Christmas candy corn. Shit, even the gas station down the street had traditional candy corn every day of the year in the buy-two-for-$1 generic candy section.

This candy over saturation was beginning to affect my love of the holidays. Easter rolled around, and I could only muster a halfhearted excitement when the chick-shaped Peeps appeared on the shelves. I think I bought two packs all season.

My enthusiasm for marshmallow-filled chocolate was waning, as well. It’s hard to get overly excited about something when it’s around all the time. It just isn’t interesting anymore.

I miss the excitement I used to get when I saw those little yellow Peeps staring at me with their tiny chocolate eyes. I miss re-remembering what the smooshiness of one feels like when you eat it for the first time in a year, the way the gritty sugar mixes with the smoothness of the marshmallow.

Now, it’s just not the same. Sure, I still eat them—my sugar addiction wouldn’t have it any other way—but there’s something missing. I think conversation hearts are the only thing that has remained exclusive to a holiday, and that’s probably just because most people think they suck.

Pretty soon, though, I fear I’ll see those on the shelves around Christmas in the shape of a damn ornament, wishing everyone who reads them a “Merry” freakin’ “Xmas.”