How Original: The Oreo

Staying up late with my friends for my first late night sleep over (a very long time ago), we would hear a weird noise in the kitchen around 3 am. We all huddled together, and waited to see if we could hear anymore. It was a clanking noise, and we could hear footsteps too. I was the brave one of the group, and it was my house, so I decided I’d go check it out. I snuck downstairs, peering around every corner, and when I reached the spot that was producing the sounds, I saw a big shadow. I gathered up some courage, and got close enough to see what it was…
Turns out it was just my father getting three Oreos and a small glass of milk, so I decided to join him, and do the same while my friends were left thinking I got kidnapped or something.  That was just the start. From then on, every weekend night, my dad would wake me up at three am to have a little snack, and we’d just talk and hang out. Turns out, he’d been doing this years before I found out; I was just never up at that time. We’d try different combinations like with marshmallows heated up, peanut butter, and other crazy ideas.
Now, every single time I eat an Oreo, I miss my dad, which is weird because he’s usually been right down the hall, and I’ve never missed anybody when I left before. Sometimes, I set my alarm for 3am and have a couple that are secretly stashed in my room. (Lauren sleeps through everything ) So, I guess it’s a bittersweet feeling that it gives me because I remember all the fun conversations we used to have, but at the same time I miss them a lot. I’ve showed my friends a couple of the crazy combinations we’ve had, and the stories of misfortunes, and they always get a laugh out of it.
Just the word Oreo brings up the feeling of happiness and love from the times we spent in the wee hours of the morning. The cookies brought me and my dad so much closer, which I never thought could happen. Whenever I start to miss home (which hasn’t happened yet) I’ll probably start the freshmen 15 (or 50) because I’m going to be eating Oreos nonstop: not gonna be good for soccer season. Who would have thought that a food that people buy from the grocery store every day could bring a daughter and father together so easily? Definitely not me, but it happened, and I wouldn’t give it up for anything. I can’t wait for the summer so the tradition can continue. I hope that even when I visit them when I’m married with kids that he’ll still want to do it. I love it, and I know he does too. Writing this has even made me in a great mood because of the funny memories.
Oreos: America’s cookie, Dad’s tool of getting to know his daughter.