Push Thru It! The Last Bite

The oozing lava from the chocolate cake slowed to a halt with one final bite lingering from the feeding frenzy of four forks.  Surely, were we not stunned by the sugar or excitement beckoning us from outside the mountaintop bistro where my dear friend and our daughters would ski into the new year.  Nor, were we simultaneously full from the rich, creamy  taste.  We were stopped by the unspoken etiquette of emptying the plate of its last tasty morsel, leaving three still-watering mouths.                           

 The edible centerpiece presented an opportunity to share a dollop of wisdom from a boyfriend long ago, who meticulously scraped and sculpted the remains of delightful dishes to share them with me.  "Always choose friends who will give you the last bite," I told our youngsters, prone to tear off Barbie's legs so both could play with her.   I had ingested and savored his generosity since I behaved more like a seagull diving for the last french fry on a vacated beach. 

Giving the last bite is a decision to loosen a reluctant grip to unselfishly look out for someone else.   It extends beyond bite-size sacrifices of molten chocolate to daily decisions to make others' lives better.  It is letting someone ahead of you in line when you are running late or setting aside your pride to say you are sorry.  It is keeping Barbie intact and giving a friend the first turn. It is tickling my daughter's back when sleeping is all I want to do.  Choosing friends who will give you the last bite starts with your willingness to do the same.  

• Do you give or take the last bite?   

Take the Last Bite Challenge!  Order your favorite dessert (or other guilty pleasure) and offer someone the last bite.  You will be the first to feel full.  And, that takes the cake! 

P.S. On my birthday, I always eat the last bite of my cherished lemon meringue pie.   In life, there is always a balance of give and take, or you would never get a bite!     

Dedicated to my daughter who wrapped 3 dollar bills and a gold dollar and gave them to me for Christmas.  Her face beamed when she knew she had given from deep within her heart.  And, yes, we were both full.