Chocolate for Lunch

The day was perfect, or at least that's how is resides in my memory. The weather was high seventies or low eighties and sunny. The breeze was just enough to cool you in the sun, but never chilly. This is how I imagine February always is in Florida. We weren't just in Florida, but in Orlando. We were not just in Orlando, but in Downtown Disnay.

We were staying a week at the "Happiest Place on Earth" and I didn't know it, but on this beautiful February day, we were about to do something that would reside in the minds of all there as a highlight of the week. We were not in Epcot eating around the world, or riding Soaring'. We were not having a Character breakfast or dinner with Villians. We were not any of the parks where memory magic is an everyday occurance. We were in Disney's giant strip mall called downtown Disney.

Don't get me wrong, if I'm going to shop, this is about the best place in the world to do it. They have "Once Upon a Toy" and "Legoland" and the monolithic "World of Disney". All of these stores, in there own ways, are worth the visit. Even for me, who is notoriously anti-shopping. None of these things, though, has produced an event, a story told at family gatherings, quite like Ghirardelli.

The seven of us stepped out from the green Disney superstore. Savannah and Sierra wanted to play in the water, which a 15 foot tall Stitch was periodically spitting from the side of the building. I was talking to my Mother-In-Law, Sue. Shelly was still in the doorway with her sisters, Stacey and Sherry.

In addition to the spewing Disney character, you see the docks the surround the water, a small stage, a few vendor carts and other restaurants. The air was full of the smells of sweet and salty. I was suddenly hungry.

In moments the group of us stood beside an ice cream vender with a yellow awning in a discussion on what we would have for lunch. From that vantage point, the most promenant building was the Ghiraredelli Ice Cream parlor. I don't know how they do it, but just glancing at the building makes you smell the rich goodness of the chocolate and fudge so strongly, you almost float through the front doors. Some said, we could have Ghirardelli.

The kids, about four or five at the time, were stunned. Could they really? I want to point out, for those of you that don't know, Ice Cream is my dessert. If you are asking me if I would rather have nearly any other dessert or ice cream, I'm going to take the ice cream. In my mind, this was a done deal. Shelly's mom and sisters, who had no kids to set en example for were in, and my reservation were being smothered by the sweet smell of chocolate and thoughts of a sundae.

The kids chanted, "Chocolate for Lunch" as we waited in line. We might not have been parents of year to any kind of health council, but we deffinately made the list the only place it matters. Even know, as I look at this piece of Ghirardelli chocolate on my desk, I'm not thinking about what the wrapper contains, but rather the sundaes and shakes and satisfied smiles of the best lunch ever.