I remember 2023: an email shows up in my inbox advertising Tacotarian Burria and Barbacoa taco filling that I could have at home. My heart leapt at the thought! I can eat Tacotarian at home? In LA? No-brainer! I bought a few of each and slipped into the blissful out of body ecstasy when I devoured them. Fast forward to 2024, another email drops and through my watering eyes and atrial fibrillation I can see the opportunity to fulfill every gluttonous gastronomic desire once again is at my fingertips. I call out in utter distress to my wife, “Which one do I get? How much storage do we have? What day is it?” She tells me everything’s going to be okay, and I order the ultimate Taco Party for myself and a few family members.
That’s when the real stress kicked in.
Days, months…anticipating the festivities of flavors dancing in my mouth, the utter joy of slipping the Barbacoa into my mouth, the aroma of Birria wafting through my house and lingering to gently tuck me in for sweet dreams. This followed by the constant checking for shipment notices, looking out the window for delivery trucks, checking to see if the store weekly for my tortillas. My soul was in agony. My nights were sleepless. Work was being affected. Every time I heard “Taco” I got triggered. What was going on with me? I began self-care meditations, attempted distractions and had limited success knowing that one day, my prayers were going to be answered.
Holidays were coming quick. I wanted to treat my visiting family since they heard me continually gush about Tacotarian. But no word so I kept my mouth shut and tried to think of something else.
Christmas Day arrived. Family was here. My thoughts were on the holiday. I looked out the window to see a sleeping world —> and a couple of boxes in front of the door? What? My gut fluttered with anticipation. My mouth and eyes swelled and flowed. My knees got weak. I rushed to the door and saw the most amazing Santa Claus gift not under the tree but at my door! Heaven was here! And since no one was awake but me, I opened every box and lovingly lined up everything in the counter for the sight of it. Tears swelled. My palms began to sweat. My cheeks hurt from smiling. Ahh. Now THIS was a great holiday season.
