I had an e-mail from Jane earlier today where she asked me:
In foreign chocolate, do you prefer milk, white, or dark? What about Martin (meaning: what chocolate does he prefer – I know you prefer him over chocolate).
To which I answered:
Funny thing, you know, you’re right. I guess I do prefer him over chocolate. Now, there’s a compliment for you (him, I mean).
And it stuck in my mind, because the answer wasn’t as obvious as you might think (or might think if you’re less of a chocoholic than I am). A year ago at most I had a discussion with some friends originating in a Nemi cartoon strip where she and Cyan read statistics saying 83% of British women prefer chocolate to sex (Nemi’s comment: “And they don’t even have Freia.”) – and I seem to remember most of us agreeing that though we could live without sex, we weren’t sure we could live without chocolate.
So the fact that given the choice never to see Martin again or never to have chocolate again I would chose to forego the chocolate really says something. Not that I just want him for the sex, mind – I might still prefer chocolate to sex. I mean, if someone said “you can have Martin and as much chocolate you want but no sex or Martin and as much sex you want but no chocolate” what would my answer be, I wonder? Well, never mind that now, it’s Martin: The Complete Package I’m talking about here. Quite glad no one is forcing me to choose, in any case.
As Jane says:
Ah, but the real beauty is, you can have him AND chocolate!
Yes, indeedy.
Except he’s in Scotland and I’m not. 47 hours to go.
Mmm. Chocolate.