I am slightly sad over the downgrading of Pluto. And I know Xena is not the new dwarf planet’s official name, but it would be a cool one.

When I trekked to 7-Eleven this morning I wasn’t planning on buying anything except a cappuccino and maybe a Detroit paper. As it happened, I was lured by a couple of stories on USA Today’s front page and picked up a copy of that instead, which I think is the first time I’ve ever bought it outside of an airport. But it had football info I think my son will want, plus another story on the eight planets.

As I started to leave, my eye caught astronomical news of a different sort: moon pies! A cardboard rack held them at two for $1, both chocolate and the oddly chosen banana.

This brought forth one of the rituals of my childhood. There was a small grocery store on the way to my grandfather’s house. I’m sure it sold many items, but the only ones I remember were the moon pies, and I often would choose banana because my siblings often didn’t and … what? I didn’t want it to feel left out?

Misplaced sympathy, I suppose. I remember moon pies as not necessarily great junk food but distinctive, and sometimes for nostalgia that’s all you require. On top of the newspaper on the dining table now there sit a pair of moon pies – one of each flavor, of course.

This post originally appeared on ourMidland.com, the online home of the Midland (MI) Daily News. Republished with permission.