Hello JELL-O!

Redmond (6) and I were cruising the aisles of Costco recently. He asked for the giant above-ground swimming pool, I told him no. He thought the 10-person tent would be perfect for our family, again I said no. The outdoor play house (too tiny, actually) and playset (assembly required) were reasonable requests. I'm sorry, honey, but we have plenty of things to play with at home.

He felt denied and mildly disappointed. I don't believe he expected me to purchase any of those dreamy items, but summer's nearly here and the merchandising at Costco is heady.

Then I spotted her. A sample lady...and she had Jell-O.

We waited in a line as long and intense as one at the Magic Kingdom entrance gates. Frazzled mothers with handfuls of kids, whining, grabbing, the frustrated sample lady asking unattended kids where their mother was and informing them that she needed a parent's permission to give a sample, self-restraint evident in her voice and eyes.

Finally, our turn. Redmond didn't know what we were waiting for. "A special treat," I told him.

"Would you like green or red?" the sample lady asked him.

He surveyed the little white cups, each with a tablespoon or two of jiggly goodness, then looked at me confused.

"It's Jell-O," I said.

"What's Jell-O?"

The entire store silenced. I think. All of the moms and kids behind us gasped. A young voice said, "I'll take his!"

I grabbed a green and headed toward the eggs—the Kirkland Organic Brown Eggs (Cage-free!).

Parke and Duke have had Jell-O. I don't know how Redmond missed this experience. I don't care for the *food* myself, so it's not a treat in our house, but to live almost seven years and not even know what Jell-O is...

He hesitantly tried the sample. "I like Jell-O," he said. "Can we buy some?"

No.