Oh God! I can’t get over this exquisite piece of fried chicken that I just ate! For the past hour, I’ve been staring in silence at a pile of very empty bones in utter awe and shock…wow.

   I could try to describe what just happened to me, but there is no way I could ever think up all the words necessary to do it any proper justice.

   Ok, I’ll give it an honest try, but I doubt anyone will ever understand this the way I do. I’m not sure of this, but I think something very deep and meaningful just occurred to me.

	Above: Barbara on a bench in front of Colonel Clucky's Chicken Hut, where she buys fried chicken in bulk.

   All I do know for sure is that this afternoon I bought this chicken from Bernie’s Grocery right down the road. Now I’ve purchased many cartons of fried chicken from Bernie’s over the past few years and none of them has tasted nearly as remarkable as this one did.

   Maybe it has something to do with the discount sticker it had on it. Like the store discounts the food to make it cheaper because it tastes good or something. I’m not a grocer, so I don’t know all the details.

   Darn it! That reminds me, I’m almost out of candy bars.
Anyway, after I had gotten about a third of the way into the chicken’s carcass, I came to the realization that I was experiencing some sort of truly unique and special moment. As if I was in a dream, I sort of took a step outside of myself and saw myself as a beautiful and misunderstood girl with the most incredible piece of food she’d ever had clutched in her two greasy hands. It was like the chicken was a mirror to my soul and everything was made clearer with every morsel I tore off and swallowed.

   Knowing how to savor good moments and good food, I immediately slowed down and took my time, carefully nudging each little section of the chicken’s body into my eager mouth – its crispy legs, tender wings, smooth thighs, and, of course, the most succulent breast I’ve ever felt on my tongue.