I wonder if there´s an Anonymous group for this...

I have already had a major addiction problem in Madrid...

Most of you already know that I have a majorly addictive personality and once I get something into my head I can´t think of anything else. I know this about myself and I should have been prepared but I wasn´t.

Cookies... these little rellenas (sandwich cookie for those of you who are Spanish handicapped) of sheer bliss, chocolate creme with a pinch of perfection. I ate one the first night Vanessa returned from her journeys and she was eating them with tea in the kitchen. You know how people say LSD opened up their minds? That´s how I felt when I had these freakin cookies. Since then I have found a brand I prefer because they have the added flavor of marshmallow, although I can´t figure how or why. They are s´mores that you can eat out of a package. I don´t even like marshmallow that much but these cookies are just out of this world. You could say they consume my thoughts more than my mouth consumes them.

I have always enjoyed cookies, but never have I formed a relationship with a baked good quite like the one I had formed with these. I had to examine my addiction because it just isn´t normal to feel that passionately about cookies (and also because I am getting fat, or going to). There is always a reason behind an addiction that strong.

After some mega soul searching and self-reflection (and some more cookies) I decided that I had been using these cookies as a substitute for my friends and family back home. I was comfort eating (cookies straight from God´s oven). I stepped into this new world and I subconsciously needed something to love/want. This is my own self-diagnosis for my addiction and I think I was spot on.

I have officially given up my rellenas completely. Vanessa asked why I don´t just have 1 or 2 and I had to explain to her that I just don´t work that way. Why have 1 or 2 when you can have them all? If you can´t have any, then you can´t have any. It´s obvious to me, at least...

I instead am going to pour all my love/want into my Spanish studies because that is something I really want in my life. Cookies will come and go, but I am only going to living in Spain for a few more months ever (probably). I have made the mature, adult decision to invest my time in something more positive than something that should be relegated to a glass of milk or a child´s lunchbox.

I haven´t bought any cookies today and I´m pretty confident that I won´t (although, if there were a cookie rehab, I would admit myself (then check out again the next day) immediately). I feel great about this right now (especially because this beautiful Spanish guy who sits at the same computer every day is sitting next to me today instead!).

¡Adíos, galletas, y no vamos a reunirnos otra vez!