During today’s bike rally in Waco (report to come), my friends and I stopped at the Mars factory, which sponsors a rest stop. Employees of the factory set up tents and tables on the grass to supply goodies to the riders. There are boxes of M&Ms, Snickers bars, Skittles, Starburst, and other sweets. I ate two small bags of M&Ms with nuts. I stuffed a couple of other items in my jersey pocket. On the way home, cruising along Interstate 35W with my air conditioner on, I ate the Starburst candies (having already consumed my Taco Bell bean burritos). I allow myself candy once a year—at this rally. One of the albums I played on my car’s compact-disc player was the first Beatles album, Please Please Me (1963). The songs are short and sweet, like the Starburst candies I was eating. Here is a song list:

I Saw Her Standing There
Misery
Anna (Go to Him)
Chains
Boys
Ask Me Why
Please Please Me
Love Me Do
P.S. I Love You
Baby It’s You
Do You Want to Know a Secret
A Taste of Honey
There’s a Place
Twist and Shout

Some of these songs, such as “I Saw Her Standing There” and “Love Me Do,” brought back pleasant memories. I was only six years old when the album was released, but I heard the songs many times while growing up. I have the first five Beatles albums on compact disc. I need to buy the others.