I told him peach rings make me feel rich.
When my Eli and I were getting to know one another, I shared one of those stories you don’t think to share until someone comes along wanting to learn every detail about you.
We got on the subject of favorite nostalgic candy.
“Why peach rings?” He asked me.
I thought about it, almost not wanting to share my real answer.
“I had a friend. Her parents were wealthy.” I began.
Eli listened intently. He always has, even for my smallest stories.
“She lived in one of those houses that was three stories. Even had an attic with a secret passage.”
He leaned in, fascinated.
“And her mom would carpool sometimes and pick me up from school. She always got her daughter peach rings and I could have a few.” I smiled. “So I always just kind of associate peach rings with wealth. Like that was the rich person’s candy. I don’t know…”
So one day Eli came home with peach rings, so excited. I had forgotten about the story I told him.
“I can’t have those.” I said.
“They’re your favorite!” Eli said sadly.
“Where did you get that from?”
“The story! The one you told me! They make you feel rich!”
I thought about it, the memory dawning on me.
My sweet man.
“Oh honey.” I said. “Baby I can’t have peach rings. They have red dye in them and I’m allergic. My tongue swells up.”
“They do not!” Eli checked the back of the bag for ingredients.
“Yes they do.” I said gently. “It’s what makes the color orange.”
“Damn it!” He said. “They sure do!”
“It’s alright.”
Eli ripped open the bag and grabbed a piece, sitting on the couch next to me.
He bit half the peach ring and handed the other half to me.
I waved my hand at it. “Baby. I really can’t have it!”
“I bit off the part you’re allergic to!”
I stared at the half of the candy. He handed me the yellow half. He ate the orange half.
“Here!” He said. Eli ate the half of another one and pieced both yellow halves together.
“Now you can eat one whole!”
I wrote the song Lavender Soul. “Two 90s kids eating peach rings…”
And we’ve eaten peach rings just like this ever since.
I still feel rich.
Love,
Gin
Watch our love story Lavender Soul here.