Running a quick errand for mother
Feeling twenty-five cents in my hand
Heading to the nearby little store
Milk, bread—let’s see what candy looks grand
Years ago, two bits meant feeling rich
A few coins equal twenty-five cents
Today, this sweet tooth will be in luck
Let this candy shopping now commence
Below the front counter, treasures wait
Friendly woman cashier stands and smiles
A few pennies for Sweet Tarts and more
Licorice, Smarties add to the pile
Looking to spend one final nickel
Picking through endless, tempting choices
Spying at last, a sweet Hershey bar
Overcome by sugar-filled voices
Arriving back home without delay
Pockets filled with sweetest treasure
Mother asks about the milk and bread
Two bucks unspent, plus her displeasure
Growing up in my childhood neighborhood, there was a little store just a few blocks away. My brothers and I made many a journey to the store for milk, bread, and other quick-to-find essentials for our mother. I cannot recall forgetting the milk and bread, but having a few coins in my pocket was treasure waiting to be spent on the candy found there.
The poem lists a few of the types of candy found back in the 1960s. Do you have a favorite candy from your childhood?
Wait, displeasure? You edited the list to come back home with the essentials. 🙂
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Jordan, you’ve got the right perspective. Thanks for sharing.
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🙂 I was laughing the whole time. I know that scene from the corner store growing up, and even better I WANTED milk for my cereal, and still came back with candy and no milk or bread. Just too funny.
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I can remember the little store like it was yesterday. The building is still there, but the store has been gone for quite a few years.
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Jordan, I like your way of thinking. Who said a seven-year old couldn’t be a genius?
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Thank you. I find that connecting to that time in real and full ways shows times and experiences when we were honestly wise in time… rather than, “You should have asked me when I was 19, ‘cause I knew EVERYTHING then.” 🙂 7 6 5 4 and 3 without commas is much Mo betta to extend a life’s work from… well, plus the rockin’ experiences I’ve had since then.
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Fireballs. All that hot sugary cinnamon. “Let this candy shopping now commence.”
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Yummy! I can remember similar candy from years ago. I may have not been a fan of the hot cinnamon taste, but I am sure I tried something like them. Gosh, if you had a quarter, you were a wealthy kid.
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Hershey’s with almonds for sure! Delightful poem. Somehow reminded me of “Epaminondes” Politically incorrect today, but a delightful story. Did you ever know it? Sent from Jan’s iPhone
Sent from Jan’s iPhone >
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I still have a passion for Hershey dark chocolate nuggets with almonds (well, I used to). I have never heard of “Epaminondes.” I did a quick look-up and see it may have had something to do with eggs.
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Root beer barrels. Walnettos. Candy cigarettes with pink sugar ‘flames.’ Wax bottles with undrinkable liquids inside. Circus peanuts. Bit-o-Honey!
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You bring up quite a collection of sweet marvels. I can remember root beer barrels as well as the candy cigarettes, wax bottles, and Bit-o-Honey. We thought we so grown up with the candy cigarettes.
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a nice little trip down memory lane … musk sticks were my favourite!
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Kate, thanks for sharing. I had to look up musk sticks so now I know something about an Aussie delicacy.
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wow I thought they would have been world wide, interesting 🙂
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Blow pops and bazooka gum 🙂 were the favourites, and my grandparents always kept the jars of them on the counter in their kitchen, You know the same kind of jars that they sold them in the stores in? My grandfathers trick to getting us to picking the penny candies when he’d take us to the store was to tell us we could have ANY THING we wanted EXCEPT these and he would always point to the penny stuff. Guess what we always wanted, AND ended up getting (to his delight) the penny stuff LOL 🙂
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I can remember the variety of candy for a penny. If you had a few cents or more, you came back with a pocketful of candy.
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Yes, you sure could, and feel like you had the whole world in your pocket hahaha 🙂
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We had a store like that, called a stationary. Newpapers, magazines and a bank of candy, packaged cakes.
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Wonderful memory Michael! I will always remember the candy on the shelves below the cashier’s counter. It was just the right height for little people.
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exactly!!
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love the humor and nostalgia of this poem, Richard – well done.
Some of my favorites: shoestring licorice, Baby Ruth, caramel creams, Reese’s Peanut Butter cups, and Nestles Crunch…
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While I was never much of a licorice fan, I found a Baby Ruth very satisfying. Thanks for reading and sharing Jim.
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I’m not even sure they make shoestring licorice any more. Now I want some…
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Oh my! Have you seen the TV commercial with a mature man riding in a car and eating licorice? He is thinking about riding a skateboard again.
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I have not seen that, sounds like my kind of guy!
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Smarties were nice and any type of chocolate. My dream was to own a candy store when I grew up. It was like heaven to see all those bright colors in the candy store….how things change!!
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Smarties were always good for a quick shot of sugar. While my candy store adventures are long over, the memories still remain. Take care Leola. God’s peace!
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Yes mine too have ended.
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I enjoy reading your stories.Thank you for sharing .
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Crissy, I appreciate your kind words. This childhood memory was fun to write about. Take care of yourself down under.
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Thank you .
Keep safe
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I loved it! Reading your sweet poem made me smile! I grew up in the 60’s, too! I’m surprised Sweet Tarts & Smarties are still around. Our kids at school love them!
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Deb, thanks for sharing. It was enjoyable bringing back a childhood memory. Sweet Tarts and Smarties . . . pure sugar! Those school kids love them indeed. Praying for you and all school staff, students, and families as school districts wrestle with how to open the school year. I have two daughters who teach in Montana.
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You’re welcome! Thank you for the prayers! 😊
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