"Absence makes the heart grow fonder?"

I came across an interesting article published in today's Wall Street Journal ("Necco wafers, taste of childhood and chalk, face the final crunch").  Apparently, the New England Confectionery Co., maker of Necco wafers (do a Google search - trust me, you've heard of them), Clark Bars, and those little heart-shaped Sweethearts with the romantic messages that get passed around every year on Valentine's Day, is apparently closing shop if it can't find a new owner by the end of May.  The company has been around since 1847, making it the oldest continually operated candy manufacturer in the United States.  Apparently, candy aficionados are so worried about the pending end of the Necco wafer that they are stocking up and hoarding whatever supplies are left.  Personally, I am more worried about Clark Bars and the heart-shaped Sweetheart candies than I am Necco wafers, as I have never been a huge fan!  The story is reminiscent of what happened when Hostess Foods announced they were going to stop making Twinkies ("The end of the Twinkie") - Twinkie lovers everywhere pleaded with the company to continue making their beloved snack, while consumers started stockpiling Twinkies, Ho Ho's, and Ding Dongs off supermarket shelves. 

What's going on here?  Apparently, the old saying ("Absence makes the heart grow fonder") really is true, at least when it comes to Twinkies and Necco wafers.  But what about humans?  A quick Google search suggests that, at least when it comes to personal relationships, there is at least some evidence that couples who are separated by distance do better in some cases (though there are several studies that suggest the opposite is true).  Maybe the more appropriate cliché is the statement, "You never know what you have until it's gone" (or a better version, courtesy of the 1980's hair band Cinderella , "Don't know what you got, till it's gone"). 

What's the lesson here for today?  If you didn't figure it out yet, it's pretty basic.  Appreciate what you have today, because it may not be there tomorrow.  We all have a lot to be thankful for - don't ever forget that fact.  There's always a reason to be happy, optimistic, and thankful.  Things can always be worse.  Just think of a life without Necco wafers and Twinkies!