The good life according to Canadiansis excrementii.
The coffee shop guy (baristo?) didn’t hesitate when I asked him which scone he recommended–the blueberry or the lemon. “Always go for the berries,” he said. His reasoning was that the basic batter was the same for both and included a touch of lemon. And so I had the lemon-infused blueberry scone.
It occurred to me that his advice had a wider application, and I promised to look. Later that day, inspired by the debut of yet another generation of Canada geese (Canadiansis excrementii), several interpretations of “always go for the berries” came to mind:
- “Know what’s important.” Eat dessert first.
- “Be on the lookout for something special amidst the routine.” Pay attention or someone else will find that insect or corn kernel lying in the weeds.
- “Given a choice, select the most extraordinary or rare.” Don’t fill up on grass at the all-you-can-eat park buffet.
- “Look for the two-fer.” Garbage is a likely source of more than one food group at a time.
- “What are you waiting for?” Keep moving. Don’t dawdle. Food isn’t going to jump in your mouth.
- “Enjoy now and deal with the consequences later.” Like berries through a goose.
What does “always go for the berries” mean to you? If you favor an alternative philosophy, what is it?
[Second Thought: It is possible, of course, to overdo this advice and by always choosing berries, destroy their mystique. Going for the berries without exception risks becoming desensitized to their special delights. Overused becomes overlooked. That’s why in J-School they warn against resorting to the same fireworks every time to open story, an error known as “berrying the lede.”]
