By Desdemona Bandini

When I first heard that Hostess, (the makers of Twinkies, Ho Hos, Cupcakes and many other lunch dessert delights for me that I was not allowed to have in middle school) was filing for bankruptcy my thoughts drifted away immediately to memories of Grandma.

I had a "weird" Mom who was incredibly health food conscience at a time when it seemed like no one else's mom was. I couldn't have sugar or chocolate, but sometimes I could have carob. Trust me, carob sooooo doesn't even count. It might be worth mentioning I was incredibly hyper already, so fueled with sugar, I was off the chain. She used to go to the health food store and spend a fortune on fresh healthy food that I would trade for a Wonderbread sandwich that tasted good, and I could sit on and flatten and roll into shapes. 

So, hanging out with Grandma was when I was free. Free to indulge in sugar fantasies. Grama, like me, was not supposed to have sugar. But who wants to do what you are supposed to do anyway? Life is short, carpe diem! Hostess was something we could agree on. It was one of our secrets together, and a fun special treat.

"OKAY!!" I would beam, she knew I wouldn't never give away our sugar pact.

Grama almost always went for a Hostess Fruit Pie. Imagine how times have changed. I cannot remember the last time I saw a Hostess Fruit Pie being sold anywhere. But back then, you needed pie to be portable. Pie was a food staple and a must-have dessert to have handy.

I almost always went for the twin-pack (because I am greedy with my sugar) of Chocolate Hostess Cupcakes. Oh the joy of knowing I would have not one chocolate cupcake, with the rich chocolate frosting with a white swirl on top, and the sticky whipped cream in the middle -- but TWO! Two cupcakes all for me. Just opening the wrapper was fun knowing I had one and then two cupcakes to eat. (Hostess was way ahead of Sprinkles, and then way behind weren't they?)

Every once in a while, I would detour from my chocolate addiction and join Grama in a pocket of pie. Blackberry was my usual, followed by Lemon, and maybe Chocolate. (Chocolate, big surprise there, not!)

But, I had various methods for eating my Hostess pie. The first bite into the sugar-dusted crust, would crumble a tiny hole, just wide enough to stick my tongue through and lick the gooey fruit filling center out -- leaving the pie crust shell with blackberry residue for last. Or sometimes I would just break it in half to have two pieces, just like my cupckes. And then work my way around those.

I lost Grandma a long time ago. I guess, I also lost my Hostess Fruit Pie moments a long time ago too, I just never noticed it. But hearing that this business was failing and might officially be over made me reflect on good times, good moments, that centered around Hostess. The company's product really did create those feel-good memorable brand relationship moments that have sustained throughout time.

So to the makers and workers for Hostess and their delectable dessert delights, I send you a shoutout today. Thanks Hostess! No really, thanks for the memories. :-)