“Candy Corn is the only candy in the history of America that’s never been advertised. And there’s a reason. All of the candy corn that was ever made was made in 1911.”
Last night was so warm I slept with the bedroom window open. The wind was blowing hard, and I could hear the rustling of leaves. Just as I was falling asleep I thought I heard drops of rain, but I wasn’t sure if I was awake or drowsily dreaming. The drops seemed to fall too slowly to be real, but this morning, the street and driveway were wet. The deck is strewn with yellow leaves from the oak tree. The sun is shining. The day is early September warm.
It’s errand day. I always save my errands until I have a bunch as I figure it’s best to ruin one day by running around than several. The errands will start with the allergist and Staples in Hyannis then on to the Christmas Tree Shop for suet, Agway for bird seed and dog treats then finally the grocery store. My larder is empty. I have a list.
Whenever my mother needed anything during the week, one of us was dispatched to the corner store, either the red store or the white store. We never knew the store names. They were just known by their colors. The white store was closer by a couple of blocks. It was a great ride on my bike. I’d go down the lawn hill and hope my father wouldn’t see the bike track then I’d take the street on the left and follow it until the last turn, also a left. From the end of that street I could see the store. It was across Spring Street and facing that last road.
The white store had wooden display cases with glass across the front. That’s where the penny candy was stored. The ladies who ran the white store, sisters I think, were patient. They knew that spending even a couple of pennies was not to be rushed. I tended toward candy which lasted a long time like Squirrels, Mary Janes or those green and yellow wrapped square candies which hurt my jaw to chew. I loved Atomic fire balls but holding on to the handle bar with one hand and using my other hand to make sure my mother’s bag, usually filled with milk or bread, didn’t bump out of my bike basket made it impossible to take the fire ball out of my mouth when the heat got too great. Besides, those were best sucked with a water source nearby.
My mother was smart. She knew we’d hurry to the store when we could keep the change. It was never more than a nickel, but in those days, to us kids, that was big money.
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October 26, 2010 at 12:45 pm
Last night was so cold that I would have died if I had had the window open 🙂 🙂 It seems frost during nights has come to stay now.
My mother worked in one of those corner shops, so I seldom had to buy anything, but occasional a neighbor asked for help. They always gave us a 25 öring (must be like a couple of nickels) so we could buy some candy to our selves too :-)Those were the days 🙂 🙂
Have a great day now!
Christer.
October 26, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Christer,
It has been warm, even hot, all day long. That window is still open, and i was just on the deck in short sleeves. It was warm enough.
A whole dime, wow!
October 26, 2010 at 2:12 pm
Its been hot, like, 70+ wear shorts hot, but now we are waiting for the arrival of the Big One this afternoon – yes Katlovers, we are about to visited by The Great Lakes Cyclone.
Never heard of it ? me neither but apparently the last time that it showed up, it took out the Edmund Fitzgerald and inadvertently created a career for Gordon Lightfoot.
So if you are watching the World News tonight and you see big bits of Michigan flying around, you will know that this bad boy came blasting through.
October 26, 2010 at 11:04 pm
My Dear Hedley,
It was nearly that hot here too, and I found the whole day delightful.
I heard about the storm on the radio. They were talking about its ferocity. I didn’t realize the Ed. Fitz went down in a similar storm. Wonder if Gordon is composing?
October 27, 2010 at 8:22 am
Well, if Gordon had pen to paper he was sadly disappointed. Basically all the puffing was on TV…
October 27, 2010 at 5:00 pm
It would be unfortunate were he to be decomposing.
Cheers
October 26, 2010 at 5:55 pm
5 cents was a big deal and a quarter would last me a week back then. I truly remember a childhood where you got plenty with a little work, running an errand, mowing a lawn, carrying all the tennis equipment for the elder gents on Saturday morning. They were big tippers. Couldn’t play worth a damn and bandaged to the hilt but they loved their outing as much as the women loved their Bridge Parties. I think we hit the window in our age group because I find looking at my kids raising their kids it’s all toys and TV. I make them play basketball when they visit here. I put up a hoop two years ago and we have a great time. Yup, we all had access to money and Dad had a new car every three or four years and Mom loved shopping at Macy’s. My sad story posted earlier about 55 and older people filing for bankruptcy I didn’t have the heart to run the paragraph that cites the stats which are growing. It is unbelievable that this country is heading third world. It ain’t the country you and I grew up in anymore Kat. Thanks for the post.
October 26, 2010 at 11:10 pm
Z&Me,
I know how valuable a nickel was. I used to think having a couple of pennies to spend was a really big deal.
We never had much money when I was a kid. The first new car we ever bought was when I was a senior in high school. Later, my father switched companies and did quite well. He was also very generous.
My sister’s kids are growing up in a similar way as you and I did. They fish with their dad and have family dinners and all the kids are there, one with his own son. My sister was bound and determined to bring her kids up the same way we were.
I am horrified by the sadness of seeing people lose everything.
October 27, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Ha! Minicapt