Yule Ramblings #11: The Orange One

Sure. This plastic bottle looks better suited for a recycling bin than a tree branch...

But look again.

It may seem empty. But it's not. It's brimming with good vibes. Remember Orange Crush? (Labeled as "Crush Orange" but commonly referred to in inverted fashion.)

Well, Colby never assigned me pet names such as Sweetie, Hun, Princess, Babe, etc. No typical terms of endearment from this guy. He simply called me his "Orange Crush."

I'm still not clear why.

I mean, I've never been an enthusiast of the beverage. High fructose corn syrup and Red 40 aside, that neon syrupy bubbly brew coats my teeth, tongue and throat. Yeccch.

But alas, "Orange Crush" stuck.

So about a decade ago, on our laminate kitchen countertop in Boulder, Colby left this adorable miniature plastic bottle for me as surprise gift. Oh, those Jelly Belly Jelly Beans were consumed with insuppressible voracity. Because let's be clear: although I may not be a Crush aficionada, I do looooove me some JBJBs - even the citrus-fruit variety. One way or another, after I gulped those bad boys down, the open container ended up on our Christmas tree. A flip top loop makes for a natural ornament hook.

As an ornament, I can appreciate how the bulb lights shine through the translucent plastic of the empty bottleneck. Red is seasonally appropriate, as well as the color of life-force and vitality. Orange's intensity has a profound effect on us, lifting our spirits with vibrancy and cheer. We never refilled it with jelly beans. We knew they simply wouldn't last. But the memories, well, those are everlasting.

A note about Jelly Belly Jelly Beans: My son has the same appreciation for the jolly candies as me :) He enjoys distributing the Bertie Bott's variations to unsuspecting tasters. If you're not familiar, this dastardly, menacing, bedlam-inducing JBJB doppelganger features flavors like earthworm, vomit, and rotten egg. So beware if my five year old approaches you with an outstretched arm, presenting a few of these little beans in the palm of his sweaty hand. Politely send him away to target another victim.