A Nation Of Wishers

So there I was the other day, watching a food show on TV, as I often do. The chef was preparing something impossibly exotic—a fish dish, carefully baked, with an incredible sauce creatively laced with novel combinations of condiments and herbs, and side dishes of moderate complexity.

As I watched, I shamelessly felt myself smiling; I was really enjoying the show. And then I thought: “Wait a minute! Much as I enjoy cooking, I’m NEVER gonna make this dish. Too damned difficult!” Even though I now know HOW to make it, I’m just not motivated enough to actually DO it. And that’s when it suddenly dawned on me: we’re a nation of wishers.

We pay rapt attention to these programs even while knowing, in our heart of hearts, that we just don’t have the time or energy to whip up these amazing repasts. And when our significant others ask us why they don’t ever get to eat these delectable delights, we smartly answer: “Because you never order it in the restaurant.”