How a good stick of butter can bring us all together.
A few weeks ago, the Madison Farmers Market hosted its annual cheese fair on a Saturday morning. After taking a lap around the Capitol, my friends and I browsed the endless assortment of cheeses, milks and other local dairy products. One stand in particular was selling butter and giving out samples on saltine crackers. My friends and I patiently waited in line, as we had for the other booths, and the butter we tried was absolutely delicious. The smooth, seasoned butter paired perfectly with the cracker, creating the most perfect combination of flavors and textures. After a few contemplative minutes, I got back in line and purchased the signature butter, something I wouldn’t ordinarily do.
When I returned home a few hours later, I was excited to share my new find with my roommates. To my surprise, one of my roommates had gone to the farmers market later that day and came home with the same stick of butter. And so had another friend! How was it possible that three of us had all independently gone to the market with hundreds of products and come home with the exact same one?
Ever since, “the good butter” has become a common phrase in our apartment. When my parents visited, we were excited to display the butter on a charcuterie board paired with assorted crackers. We end long days of class and homework with a good piece of toast, and this butter has truly become a genuine source of joy and laughter in our apartment.
This butter has reminded me that we are all a lot more similar than we think. After all, we had all tried a variety of butters and somehow chose the same one. It feels like so much of college is about finding what makes you unique and distinguishing yourself through academics, accomplishments and involvement. While I have loved exploring new interests and hobbies in college, I also remind myself that it’s OK to be myself, even when parts of myself blend in with others. At the end of the day, I’d rather laugh about a love for good butter with a friend than appreciate it alone.
My favorite butter moments have really been the ones I’ve shared with others. While I discovered this butter on my own, sharing it with my roommates, family and friends has been the best part of the butter saga. It’s brought us together around our kitchen island, been part of celebrations and game days and never fails to give us a good laugh. This butter has been a constant reminder that the best parts of life are the moments we share with others.
I never would have thought that something as random as a stick of butter would become the source of so many inside jokes, the background of a group chat and even a gift to a friend, and yet, here we are. I have never written or thought about butter as much as I have today, but honestly, that’s the most beautiful part of the story. Something so ordinary, found in everyone’s fridge and often overlooked, has brought an enormous amount of laughter and joy into our lives.
I hope everyone gets the chance to find their own “good butter” and enjoy it with a friend. There’s really nothing butter.