J - e - l - l - o

There is something inherent in the arrival of spring that inspires me to rejuvenate my surroundings. To organize. Simplify. Prioritize. Purge. A major component of this yearly cathartic process involves throwing open cupboards, drawers and closets and exposing their contents to the cold light of a March day. And making some harsh pronouncements upon their fate.

And so it was that the emptying of a rarely-used kitchen cupboard revealed this:

A pumpkin-orange plastic Halloween Jello mold. Unused for a few years now, but once an integral part of the Halloween festivities at my house. Originally acquired "free", with the purchase of several packages of Jello, this humble piece of plastic provided faithful service throughout many Octobers, producing countless Jello jack-o-lanterns and ghosts. But anyone who has shared a home with two small children will immediately recognize the problem here. Only one ghost among all those jack-o-lanterns. One ghost. The trigger for all-out war. A powder keg waiting for a match. So what to do?

Sure, there are reasonable solutions. The ghost mold could simply remain empty. But that creates the additional problem of leftover Jello.

Or one ghost could be cut in half. But accurately cutting Jello is no easy task and two uneven pieces would just result in a renewed battle.

Perhaps each person could take a turn claiming the ghost, alternating with each successive package of Jello. Sadly, this is a solution that works so much better in theory than in practice.

Ultimately, the easiest solution to the problem of the lone Jello ghost presented itself. I would eat the ghost myself. Jello is a long way from being my favourite dessert, but it's a sacrifice I've been willing to make in the pursuit of peace and harmony. Especially when accompanied by ice cream.

But that was then.

Still, as I stood with the plastic mold in my hand, poised over the garbage bag, I was overcome with second thoughts, fond memories, and an inexplicable desire for orange-pineapple Jello and French Vanilla ice cream. And despite my devotion to my spring cleansing ritual, I relented. The Jello mold will live to see another Halloween.