I tasted my very first Girl Scout Cookie when I was in second grade. My older sister had recently joined the classic American organization popular among young girls and naturally my mom bought a few different boxes of the cookies. It was a Samoa, or Caramel deLites as they are also called, and after just one bite of the hexagon-shaped cookie, I was hooked.

As soon as my mom would let me, I joined Girl Scout Troop 77. To be quite honest, my motives were not pure. I craved those cookies; I wanted those cookies and being a young child, I thought being a Girl Scout would guarantee an unlimited supply of the delectable treat.

I’ll admit I liked being a Girl Scout. I had fun learning how to use a pocket knife, gluing fabric shells onto a parade banner and camping in my troop leader’s backyard, but I was really only in it for the cookies. I couldn’t help but get excited at the start of a new year, knowing I’d be selling, and more importantly eating, those facmous cookies soon.

Now that I’m 22, and technically an adult, I still get excited when I see my first set of Girl Scouts in front of Walmart in their green vests full of patches and smiles spread on their face as they politely ask, “Would you like to buy some cookies today?”

Of course I would.

Last year, I even ran into one girl dressed as a Carmel deLite. She was dancing in front of a Walmart in Austin dressed as my favorite dessert. I bought two boxes.

My love of Girl Scout Cookies comes from not only their ridiculously fresh taste, but also the simple fact that they are only sold a few months out of the year. In a time where we can buy almost anything instantly just by opening a Web browser and logging into Craigslist, eBay or any number of store websites, Girl Scout Cookies represent a different era where people actually spoke to each other face-to-face, an era where you had to wait patiently for what you wanted.

I know people might criticize the Girl Scouts for selling cookies just once a year, saying they could make four times as much money by selling the cookies year-round, but I simply cannot agree. The mere fact that I know I only have a small window of opportunity to purchase and enjoy the cookies is the reason why last year I went through six boxes in two weeks. Knowing that in August if I wanted a fresh Carmel deLite, I’d be out of luck, I’d search for a Girl Scout and buy another box while I still could.

I appreciate the Girl Scout Cookie. Not only for the magic combination of chocolate, caramel and toasted coconut, but because they remind me to appreciate the little things in life.