Letters to the Editor

Notre Dame and Bubble Gum

To the Editor,

I write today filled with equal parts joy and perplexity as two great quests of human spirit intertwine: the triumphant reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral after its devastating fire and my increasingly fruitless search for chocolate-flavoured Hubba Bubba gum, a sweet treasure I last enjoyed in 1978. At first glance, these two matters may seem unrelated, but I assure you they share a bond as deep as my love for chewing gum and Gothic architecture.

Notre Dame, rising once more in all its celestial glory, is a testament to humanity’s ability to rebuild what has been lost. The dedication to preserving history, the intricate craftsmanship, and the sheer willpower it takes to restore such a marvel are truly inspiring. And yet, I can’t help but wonder: if we can resurrect this sacred monument from the ashes, why, oh why, can’t we bring back chocolate Hubba Bubba? Surely the technology exists! Surely the world’s confectionery architects can roll out a bubble gum renaissance?

The connection between the two is obvious, if you look hard enough (and I do). Both represent fleeting tastes of joy —one spiritual, the other sugary — that linger in memory long after they ’re gone. But while the world gathers to celebrate the reopening of Notre Dame, I find myself scouring obscure corners of the internet, candy shops, and possibly time itself in search of that elusive flavour of my youth.

Could my search for gum be as futile as trying to chew history itself? Or, conversely, could Notre Dame’s restoration inspire a revival not just of sacred spaces but also of sacred snacks? After all, if French craftsmen can recreate the spire, surely someone can recreate a chocolate-flavoured bubble.

In the end, I suppose my confusion lies in why we choose to preserve some things and let others fade into obscurity. Notre Dame has been saved, yet my nostalgic bubble bursts again and again. Is it too much to ask that we rebuild not just cathedrals, but also the simpler joys of 1978?

Yours in sweet nostalgia and architectural awe,
A Confused Chewer of History and Gum