When I was a kid, I would sometimes go food shopping with my mom.  On very few occasions, I was able to convince her that buying me a pack of bubble gum would make my life complete and prevent me from ever wanting anything again.  The following few days, I would slowly chew those 5 or 6 pieces of rectangular goodness like they were my last meal on death row.  I wasn't much into sharing, so I would stash my gum away in a secret place and chew it silently.  I was always amazed at the kids who dished out their bubble gum like it was a high five.  "Their parents must be rich," I thought. 

Bubble gum became kind of juvenile as I got older.  I got more into the mints and cinnamons because those types of gum served a purpose:  Fresh breath.  Bubble gum was a novelty item; it didn't do anything but provide the ability to blow bubbles.  How childish. 

But after I got out of college, I got back into bubble gum because, let's face it, it's awesome.  I always keep a pack in my car, and I chew it gladly and openly.  Who's gonna stop me?  I'm past the point of acting my age so I appear more mature.  And I snagged me a wife, so I'm good there too (actually, Wendy likes bubble gum just as much as I do).  From an economic standpoint, it's one of the few items left on the planet which can be bought for less than $1.  From an enjoyment standpoint, it's one of the smallest actions that can produce such great joy. #food