There are some things in this life that seem so ordinary, and we’ve experienced them for so many years that we’ve never stopped to ask ourselves a simple question:

“Is that normal?“

Because let’s be honest, here… How are we supposed to know?

I’ve had tinnitus–this ringing in both of my ears–for as long as I can remember. It wasn’t until my last year of middle-school that I learned that was out of the ordinary. Again–how was I supposed to know?

Ohhhh, but it gets better than that.

Buckle up. I think it’s about time I told you a 100% true story about how I accidentally discovered my lifelong food allergy.

Newsflash: I’m a fool.

Have you ever seen that episode of I Love Lucy where she’s working at a candy factory? And the conveyor starts going faster and faster until Lucy can’t keep up with it so she starts shoving the chocolate into her mouth and stuffing it down her shirt?

It’s probably fitting that that’s the only episode of I Love Lucy I’ve ever seen.

Now, my name’s Lucy. I bet you didn’t know that about me (that’s a joke).

And while I didn’t work in a candy factory I did work in a candy shop. The place is called See’s Candies; it’s a chain mainly on the West Coast. Everyone in California knows that it’s the best candy around, from the chocolate to the gummies to the peanut brittle.

It’s pretty cute place, too. It holds onto the 1920s aesthetic from when it was first started by ol’ Mary See, made to look like her kitchen with all the black-and-white tiles and trimmings and bow-tie-adorned uniforms. I walked around work lookin’ like Mrs. White in the Kitchen with the candlestick, if you know what I mean.

And do you wanna know the best part about working in a candy shop?

Free candy.

Anything from behind the counter was fair game during snack breaks. Sometimes I’d have sugar for breakfast. It was great.

Now, obviously I had to quit my job to move across the country for school. And obviously I’d take advantage of that “free chocolate” rule on my very last day.

My very last day of two years of working there.

Two years.

So on my very last day of work, I grabbed a couple of pieces of fresh chocolate from behind the counter and sat on a pallet in the back.

It was mid August, which isn’t exactly the busiest chocolate-buying time of year, especially not in California. So on this, my very last day of work, it was just me and my manager chillin’ out together.

And as I was snacking on my favorite pieces, I got to thinking. Customers love to complain. I think everyone knows that. In my two years of working there, I’d thought I’d heard it all–from “this piece is too sweet” to “that piece is too fudgy” to “you should really sell coffee here too.”

But as I was sitting in the back room, munching on some milk chocolate caramel almond-y goodness, I couldn’t help but wonder why nobody ever complained about how, when you eat more than one piece of chocolate, it kind of burns your throat.

Y’know. Seems like the kind of normal thing that any normal person would bring up on occasion.

Then I sat there for a moment, chewing. Felt the faint tingle in my throat–the familiar tickle.

Those A Beautiful Mind equations started hula hooping around my head. Wait, I thought. Hold on a second.

The store was empty, so I went out to the floor where my manager was stocking things.

“Does chocolate tickle your throat?” I asked her.

She frowned at me. “No?”

“So it’s not supposed to do that?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Oh.”

I remember my manager giving me a very concerned look as she asked me the next part: “Wait–Lucy, does chocolate itch your throat?”

I squinted very pensively. “Is chocolate not supposed to be a tad spicy…?”

…Apparently not.

TWO YEARS I WORKED THERE.

TWO YEARS.

And you’re telling me I didn’t figure that out until my very last day??? Hello??? Am I okay???

I ate chocolate almost every day at work–not to mention my entire childhood–but HOW WAS I SUPPOSED TO KNOW THAT IT’S NOT SUPPOSED TO BE SPICY.

Sorry–I didn’t mean to shout so much there.

“Lucy, is there a moral to this story?”

Look at you, Mr. I Know How To Ask Questions.

I just find the whole situation so ridiculous. How can someone go around for twenty years and not realize they’re slightly allergic to chocolate?

And yet…I bet someone could go for way over twenty years without realizing little habits, sensations, or experiences of theirs aren’t normal.

What about you? Is there something “normal” in your life that I’ve accidentally made you suspicious of? Tell me in the comments–I’d love to know.

And I know what you’re thinking…

“Lucy, do you still eat chocolate…?”

Yes.

Yes I do.