Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories - December 14 - Fruitcake

My husband tells the story of how, when he was a child, he had his first piece of fruitcake.  Unlike the word, "eggnog", the name "fruitcake" seemed to describe something he would find enjoyable.  Fruit was something he liked and cake was certainly on his list of favorite things to eat.  Therefore, fruitcake, with it's combination of two taste sensations, should be delicious, he reasoned.  He found out quickly that things don't always taste the way they are described and he didn't like that tradition at all.  As he has gotten older, he has developed an appreciation for fruitcake, especially one that he purchased once at a "dollar" store and can't seem to replicate.  I on the other hand have only tasted one fruitcake that I could describe as being edible.  A former boss of mine, who happened to be a Presbyterian minister and counselor, made the tastiest fruitcake I have ever had.  I have no idea what ingredients she used, although I suspect there may have been a good deal of rum in the cake.  Regardless, I had the opportunity of working with her over the period of two Christmas seasons and after the first year, I have to admit, I looked forward to receiving one of the minicakes that she distributed to all our co-workers.  It's one of my fondest memories of working  for her.  But, since then I have never found another fruitcake that  I would consider "tasty".  But, I'm willing to keep trying!