The Final Product

"Now can we eat it?!"

No sooner was this gingerbread house assembled than the kids were already asking to eat it! The frosting wasnt even dry! I guess I had forgotten how irresistable candy and cookies are, even when they are the quality of cardboard and super-glue jawbreakers. It just looks so magical in the eyes of a child!

If I think back, I can remember how totally-freakin'-amazing- aMAZing it was to think about a little house made of candy. That was REAL TREASURE! Oh, man! As an adult, I look at that made-to-store-well crappy candy and want to pitch it. But as a kid, the candy would have been so special. Like diamonds and gold coins just laying there for the taking!

I thought the gingerbread house would sit around until Christmas, at which point I would throw the nasty thing away. But I can see now that it will be eaten by then. Its not worth the argument over food quality. I know its made of the worst stuff, with preservatives and probably wood pulp. I sampled the frosting, which tasted strongly of glue and corn starch. But I dont think the kids taste the gingerbread house when they nibble at it. All they taste is rainbow colored dreams in gumball form; rich heart-filled goodness in each stale cookie bite; warmth and wonder in frosted, frozen icing icicles! This truly is magic.