My happiness can be bought for $5.99

Sobey's finally got mandarin oranges.

It now feels like the Christmas season to me.

I was completely euphoric, grinning like a mad man as I walked to my car.

I couldn't contain myself. I sat in the parking lot, listened to country music, and peeled my first mandarin orange of the season.

As I rolled it between my palms, and peeled away the skin, the memories started coming back.

And then I slowly broke off one segment of juicy flesh, as a sad smile crept across my face.

The moment the sweet-tart juices hit my tongue, I was instantly reminded.
Off all of the other mandarins I've had.

How starting in November we would have one packed in our lunches everyday, then one tucked into the toe of our stocking on Christmas morning, and an odd memory of trying to peel them into the shape of elephant heads at Sunday school concert practice. We must have gone through so many boxes each season.

And then, sitting in my car, I realized how much I miss my Mom and Dad, Sisters, Grandma, and Him. How even though I love this island, I need to be back in the same province as them (and only have the Gap between Jodi). How I can't wait to be home for the holidays. But I wish that was home, and I know I'm going to have trouble getting back on that plane.

So obviously, I cried. because I miss everyone so much, and don't want to leave them again.

All this, from one piece of citrus.