Most of us have heard the expression, “you can’t have your cake and eat it too.” With sayings like that, we usually don’t even think twice and just know it means you can’t have too much of a good thing or whatever. I made the mistake of actually thinking about it and wondered why I can’t have my cake and eat it too?

First of all, if I have cake, I am probably going to eat it. Period. End of discussion. I used to bug my former coworker Taylor so much when he went places where there might be cake and “jokingly” asked him to bring me some back if there was any. Like a good friend and terrific coworker, he did because he knew I was not joking. One time, he went somewhere that had two different cake options, and instead of just getting one, he brought me both options.  

I started really thinking about the saying when another coworker brought it up the other day and we began to question why you couldn’t just eat the cake too. Merriam Webster says this saying means “to have or enjoy the good parts of something without having or dealing with the bad.” I imagine in literal terms, the bad part about having a cake and eating it too means you gain weight. That is the only downside I see. It could also mean once you eat the cake, it is gone and you will never get to have it again. This simple phrase caused me to have some serious thoughts. Too many thoughts. Who knew cake would be so thought-provoking?

Another source says it means you have to make a choice, you cannot have it both ways. Like if someone wants to keep the cake, they cannot eat it. It is similar to the saying, you cannot take a swim and not get wet.  Again, I thought way too much about this. 

Since we are on the topic of cake, I did have wedding cake the other night that was fantastic. I went to a wedding and they served breakfast. It was incredible. I felt like I was at a Shoney’s buffet. I just really thought serving breakfast at a wedding was a genius idea. They had biscuits, gravy (chocolate and regular), eggs, hash brown casserole, sausage, bacon, etc. They also had a waffle/pancake bar, a coffee bar and a whole table full of pastries. I ate so much. My uncle and I looked kind of hilarious trying to balance our multiple plates because we did try and get a little of everything. 

I promise I am getting to the cake. After I attempted to eat everything, I was miserable. I didn’t know if I would be able to eat any wedding cake, which was the whole reason I wanted to go. As I sat, feeling miserably full, I watched them cut the cake and curiosity got the better of me. I had to try this cake. I got a piece and it was wonderful. Even though I was so full, I still ate that whole piece. So I guess, in my case, I can and WILL have my cake and eat it too. 

Standard reporter Bethany Porter can be reached at (931) 473-2191.