It is official.  I have a following.  I’m not sure it’s a fan club.  But it is a following.  How do I know?  Well, here’s the scoop.  On Valentine’s Day I was sitting somewhere minding my own business (yes, I do mind my own sometimes!), when a handsome fellar came up with this medium sized brown bag just a rustling.  He walked right up and said he had something JUST for me. I smiled and looked puzzled I’m sure.  He kept insisting they were appropriate JUST for me, said when he saw them he just HAD to bring me some.   
I happen to know this fellar and his winsome ways.  I was just a tad scared to open the bag.  About that time, a friend walked up and I told her what was going on.  She said SHE would open the bag for me and make sure it was safe.  So she did.  And guess what was in the bag? You’re not gonna believe it.
I have a candy with my name on it.  Sure ‘nuff.  “DIVA” is stamped in red ink on every box.  (I checked to make sure!)  They come in several pastel colors.  They are sparkly and sweet and sour and heart shaped...just like me (only you have to think upside down heart...I’m not “pear-shaped” like the doctor’s may judge...I prefer to be “upside down heart shaped”!)  The box also has “dazzled tarts” on it and I know I can be dazzling sometimes (perhaps not always in a good way!) but being a preacher’s wife, I better not comment on the “tart” part. Where are these inspired treats?  You can find them at Walmart!  I need to call the local dollar stores to see if they carry them because I am SURE you want to buy some of my candy.  They make great gifts for children, great snacks at your desk, great decorations on baked goods (bring them to The News for sampling please), great craft items...cute on picture frames, etc.  There are countless good uses for these candies! The ONLY thing that bothers me just a little bit is that the candy is made in Massachusetts. That is up north...where the Yankees live.  I didn’t even know people there read the The News!  I’m proud of them for doing so but I hope they’re not spying on us.  These days, you never know. But at least Massachusetts is in the good ole U.S.A.
Funny, no one asked my permission to use my name.  I didn’t have a say-so in it’s manufacturing or ingredie-nts...which are sugar, corn surup, (sounds good to me already!), corn starch, citric acid, sodium citrate, gelatin, natural and artificial flavors, vegetable gums, arabic and xanthan, food colors and pearl-escent pigment. Pearls, I like...but why’d they have to bring pigs into it?  But, hey!  There’s 0 grams of fat!  Even Lydia in Rehab will like that!
I thank that gentleman for making my day! I thank Massachusetts for making the candy!  It is unbelievably satisfying to find out you have a following!
If you would like to submit questions or comments for “Diva Dives In,” you may mail them to “Diva Dives In,” c/o The News, 511 N. Longstreet Street, Kingstree, S.C. 29556 or email them to us at advertising@kingstreenews.com.