You didn’t think I would let this most auspicious day pass without a post, did you??
What day, you ask? Why…Pączki Day, of course!
Yes, that’s right, it may be Fat Tuesday to the rest of the world, but it’s PączkiDay here in the Polish enclaves of Southeast Michigan. I’ve written about my love of these “jelly doughnuts on steroids” before on this blog, so you can feel free to go search it, but just know that if you wondered if I would pass it up this year, due to my ongoing struggles to get back to goal…the answer is no!!
I am still a firm believer that everything is good in moderation, and I’m firmly against deprivation just for the sake of feeling like I’m “being health-conscious.” I love donuts too much for that, and these aren’t just any donuts!! So, I got up early this morning and despite the weather…
Yes, I ran four miles at -4° this morning…all for the express intent of having my cherished Bavarian creme Pączki. And I enjoyed every bite!!
Ha ha, no, I didn’t eat the whole box! Those are the ones I took to work. 🙂
I also want to give a HUGE shout out to Heritage Bakery of Livonia, Michigan…
…and especially one employee in particular. All JJ wanted today was a chocolate Pączki. (You can read the story of when his quest began here.) He’s talked about it for several days leading up to today, and then, this morning, when I mentioned it was Pączki Day and I was excited to go get my Pączki before work, he said, “Don’t forget my chocolate one!” That kid has a memory when it comes to food.
When I arrived at the bakery, you can imagine my dismay when I got in line and then looked up at the board with its list of flavors–only to see that “chocolate” had a line of tape through it! 🙁 The chocolate ones sell out fast, it seems. The woman in front of me confirmed that they had indeed sold out, but because I desperately did not want to disappoint my son, when I got to the counter, I asked the lady who was waiting to take my order if they really were out of chocolate. She looked sad when she replied, “Unfortunately, yes.” I sighed and admitted my disappointment, because all my son had wanted was a chocolate Pączki. When she heard that, she held up a finger and whispered so that only I could hear, “Hold on. Let me check the back one more time.” She disappeared through the door but came back within a minute, and I was dejected to see she was empty-handed. But then, she walked over and grabbed a small white bag from the counter that had clearly been set aside with a single Pączki in it. She walked back to me and and stealthily handed it over to me. I asked her if I was taking someone else’s Pączki , and she whispered across the counter with a grin, “It’s mine, but I don’t need it.” I tried to refuse, but she insisted. Because she was so generous, I briefly told her the story of his year-long wait for the elusive chocolate Pączki, and then she got a big smile on her face and said that she was glad she had one to give him. And then, on top of all that…she wouldn’t even charge me for it!
Now, if that doesn’t restore your faith in humanity, I don’t know what will! I was so impressed with her generosity…
I made JJ write a thank-you card, which I will mail to her in care of the bakery tomorrow. 🙂
Happy Pączki Day!!
Very cool of the bakery and employee. I’m glad JJ finally got his chocolate Pączki!
Thank, MH! He let me have a bite, and it was oh so good! 😉
Huzzah for thank you notes. What a very sweet employee. I hope you all enjoyed your Pączki.
Jenn
Huzzah, indeed! I still believe in them, and made JJ write them for his birthday gifts, lol! xoxo
What an awesome worker! So glad that JJ got his chocolate paczek! I am not a huge donut fan so I did not have one this year. Thank goodness no one from work brought them in or I would have been tempted.
Go you, running seven miles for that paczek!
Thanks, Meg! And I love that you are a native Detroiter who knows the proper singular form of the word paczki. 😉
Next year, if someone at works brings some in, take one and just give it to ME!!!!!!!!! LOL!!
Thanks for the support!