Corny Reactions

What is it about popcorn and offices?

I’ve been on a popcorn kick for a couple of days. As we’ve moved into spring and warmer weather, my desire for hearty meals has plummeted and my body has responded accordingly. A nice snack to have is usually popcorn. Filling, tasty, and low-cal.

However, I usually pop the corn at work. And the reaction is instantaneous.

“Popcorn!” bellows a gentleman down the hallway who I don’t know. I give him a lame smile in return.

“I smell popcorn!” another person says, turning to grin at me. “What kind?”

“Um, low fat kettle corn,” I offer.

“Oooh!” she exclaims.

“Pop, pop, popcorn!” declares a co-worker. “I knew it was around here somewhere,” she says, pointing to my desk.

I understand how popcorn prompts such strong reactions – the smell wafts pretty much up and down all hallways, it’s a nice snack that most people don’t think about until they see it, and it’s not something limited to movies or the stovetop anymore (unless you choose the stovetop, which I would do if I had a Whirley Pop popper). But it’s been that way for years now – why, when I was your age, I brought microwave popcorn to school (already popped, obvs)! So why the exclamations of pure delight when I happen to have a bag on hand?

And how am I supposed to react? Should I offer to share my popcorn? If there’s one thing those squeals over popcorn prompt in me, it’s a selfish feeling – I don’t want to share, damnit! Am I supposed to jump up and down with the person over the delight they feel in seeing popcorn in the workplace? I love popcorn and when someone else has made it and I smell it in the hallways, my reaction is to buy a box next time I’m at the store – not gush at the person for their stellar choice in snacks and imply that I wouldn’t mind having some myself.

I get that having popcorn around might make everyone feel like a kid again, but here’s the deal: I really didn’t like being a kid. I associate popcorn with a turn towards healthier snacking to be quite honest. I wasn’t the type of kid for whom popcorn was a nostalgia builder; there are no movies, traditions, or uniqueness related to popcorn for me. I find these exchanges awkward to say the least.

When I make popcorn, no comment is necessary.

I really am an introvert, aren’t I? (And being an introvert is not a bad thing!)