We all kid Bobbi Wenner, our project coordinator with the saying, “I can see it! I can see it!” Bobbie can see it complete in her mind’s eye. She has the vision. We can’t envision how it will all come together. We sit back and watch the volunteers glue, paint, and glitter individual giant gumdrops, ice cream cones, and candy canes throughout the year.

This year’s theme is the board game, Candy Land. Sugar Plum Lane, Gumdrop Pass, Molasses Swamp, Rainbow Trail, Lord Licorice, Queen Frostine, Princess Lolly and Gramma Nut all come to life in this year’s display.  Mr. Mint who begins the game board with his striped eight foot peppermint cane prompted my next door neighbor’s child to say, “I wish it was real. I’d eat all of it.”

Another tradition in our culture is to equate sweets with celebrations. Christmas cookies, a box of chocolates, and candy canes are synonymous with the season. Thank goodness for peanuts, fresh cut veggies, and cocktail shrimp. (Read Holiday Snacking (Lyndsay) under: From the Experts, Nutrition Tip of the Month.)

Another child visiting the Senior Center asked her mom for a treat. Her mom produced a shiny red apple. This child happily ate this gift of sweet goodness. As I watched, this was an “a-ha moment” for me. I had just had one to many chocolate creams from a holiday box given to us by a senior.

“I can see it now!” This is my diabetic motto for the new year. My purse will have an apple or a bag of almonds to munch on when I’m overly tempted by something too sweet and too much. (My doctor says to think of these sweets as poison. This is harder for me to visualize.) I can see it now! An A1c hovering in-between a 6 and a 7 all during next year.

Can you see it? Can you prepare for it?

Yes, we can. In the words and spirit of a child’s favorite picture book, “I think I can. I think I can. I think I can.” Prepare good snacks and substitute them for corn syrup laden goodies. Keep those exercise shoes handy. Soon you’ll be singing, “I did it!” And, we’ll reach the 6^th rung of the A1c hill and plateau there. I can see it now! Can’t you?