The days of boxes of candy treats lying around the house are long past. But this Christmas, a couple did find their way into the house. One night, I reverted to my thirteen-year-old self and went hunting for favorites. The memories rushed back.
Growing up in New York City as a superintendent’s son, it seemed that the fee for any small favor beyond the call of duty was, at the very least, a box of mixed chocolates from one of the popular chocolatiers. I’d come home from school and see if my sister had beaten me to one of those creamy nougats. If no one was watching, perhaps a seek and eat raid to fill up before dinner, but being careful to leave my sister’s favorites untouched. My raid might escape Mom, but not if my sister tattled.
Now, it seems like those days were so far in the past that they are sort of a Bronze Age. ” Yes, that’s right, Sonny. Before we had steel, it was all bronze, and believe me, getting an edge on a razor to shave was an all-day job!” The couple of boxes this Christmas had to be the first in ages. I have to admit that it’d never occur to me to go out and buy a box. If I have a sore throat, I’ll have a cough drop. I’ll eat cookies or cakes, but a box of candies? These days, I wouldn’t think of it.
Well, now the idea is in my mind…where the heck would I buy them? As a kid, there were actual candy stores all over the place in New York. Around here? I don’t know, maybe I’ll check the grocery store when I go out to get milk and cat food. See what you started!
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Yes, grocery and “drug” stores carry boxes of candy, especially this time of year. There’s always Amazon, or some high-end direct ship (I’m looking at you L.A. Burdick). Google will give you a ton of shops. Anyways…
I laughed at the co-conspirators, you and your sister. Leave her favorites alone and she’d let you skate. Perfect sibling behavior. 🙂
Laura…I was trying to avoid letting my inner 13 year old know where a “fix” could be found…down the main road at the local CVS!!!!
One thing that was always part of Christmas at our house when I was a kid was a box of Russell Stover Candy. I’d enjoy that now, but I never think of it. Damn you for putting it in my mind! 🤣
Oh yeah Russel Stover, why the hell did you mention the name! Now I’ll hungry for one all night long.
Sorry… You did it first…
OK…but watch that stuff!
I’m not getting any. Thar’ be dragons in those boxes.
I can tell you where I was and what I was wearing (and that it was — without a doubt — a buttercream “enrobed” in milk chocolate) when I first tasted a Russell Stover chocolate. When the box came around again (at a work party), I saw that no one had taken the dark chocolate raspberry heart. Bwahaha!! Mine, all mine! 😮 Now I want candy! Thanks, Lou. 😉
Hey! St. Valentine’s Day is coming…the perfect excuse!
Yes, Lou!! 👍👍👍😉