CANDLE LIGHTER

Ding-dong!

Sweet Neighbor Girl and her big sister were at the door this afternoon--big sis holding a large envelope.

"What are you selling?" I asked. I've been throught this routine so many times before that I can make the sales pitch for her.

"Candles for FCCLA." (That's the updated, hip name for what used to be FHA when I was in high school. I have no idea what the last three initials stand for but the first two are Family and Consumer. Truth be known, not a single club member probably has a clue, either.)

"Oh, have you ever come to the right place! Step right in. I LOVE candles!!"

The candles she's peddling are one of the popular, up-scale brands and the scents are these fabulous, romantic ones that smell good enough to eat. Her sample sheet was "scratch and sniff," so I was like a bloodhound out for the prey. Decisions, decisions. I settled for Cinnamon Vanilla, Pine Forest, and Apple Cinnamon.

I hope this order gets here fast because I'm on my last scented candle right now--mulberry. When one lives with three cats and one Big Bore, it helps to have room aroma-fiers. (Is that a word?) I'm not good with those canned sprays like Glade and Air Wick. Half the time I end up spraying them in my face or they squirt out in drippy clumps. Give me a nice candle to light my fire and make the living room smell like I'm baking cookies and apple pie in the woods...instead of, well, I'll spare you the sad truth.