Running on sugar ...

Having money in our pockets meant one thing ..we needed to spend it . I find it interesting that as I look back I remember much easier what I did to earn money than what I spent it on . and I have absolutely nothing to show in the tangible of what I purchased with my hard earned money .

Candy was a big part of spending , and we had lots of choices to tempt us . Some of them are still around Hershey Chocolate bars and Snickers , Three Musketeers were very popular . MY favourites seemed to vary from pay day to day ..I think my all time favourites were Big hunks and Ice Cubes . There were also some wax Candy favorites  ( red lips and teeth )  , we even had  Candy Cigarettes so we could be like our parents , and bubble Gum Cigars .  there were  once inch cubes of real bubble gum  ..which if left unattended could be used to build a house on .

A few blocks away from us was the corner Grocery store it sat on he intersection of Capital Highway and miles street . My Memory fades but I believe it was Colemans Grocery store . It was a small place with Candy in the front and meats in the back , a few bins of produce and lots of Cigarettes up front as well . The floors were wooden and the owners were always there ..It was a Husband and wife team ..hey lived in a house behind the store on 31st street .

Shopping for candy seemed to be a communal experience , its one of the few things I can remember my Brother and I doing together . After Cupcakes and kool-aide we would take some of our money , saving some for later , and walk or ride our bikes down to the Grocery store . We would then spend several minutes , drooling , picking up examining , the wide variety of candy available . Some was eaten with in minutes of Purchase , while some was hidden in our respective Hiding places for the lean days of Candy famine.

I don't believe we spent much of our money on Soda Pop . though it was readily available . Not sure why ... I Know we were rationed Coca Cola by my mother , we would have some as a special treat ...Another of my favourites was Orange Soda . and Strawberry cola . I suspect one of the problems with Soda was opening it . there were no twist tops then , a bottle opener was required . There were rumors of a Metal can but we did not see them until either very late in 1959 or into the 60's . I also do not recall very much available in the Salty snack food department either .

My Childhood was definitly sweet  ....