Collections

Collections

Probably every kid collects something.  Matchbox cars. Rocks. Barbie shoes. Stickers. Cat whiskers (no, those were the future psychopaths.)

I could spend all day on Saturday looking at my collection.  I'd organize it, rearrange it, sort it by color or chronologically.  I didn't collect dolls or books or pressed flowers,  I collected birthday napkins. 

 In the early 60s there were no big box stores of aisles dripping with party supplies.  Birthday parties were not a big business sport.

 We didn't have jump houses. We didn't pay big money to hire a business to house our birthday parties.

If we were lucky, someone's uncle would dress up as a clown and juggle.  That is just creepy.  I  don't trust a painted smile.


  Basically, our moms went to Ben Franklin or T,G & Y and got a party pack of 8 napkins.

  There were not many to choose from...usually it was Raggedy Ann for girls  and a cowboy theme for boys.

And moms were frugal.  They invited 8 kids and only had 8 napkins.  Do you see my stress here?  That meant that there were no extra napkins.

 I couldn't make a mistake!  I couldn't drop any cake!  I couldn't wipe my mouth! The angst still haunts me today.


We played Pin the Tail on the Donkey.  (They always had creases on the donkey where it had been folded in the box.). We played swing the statue and freeze tag.

This was before box cake mix, before elaborate party favors, before dads had to attend the party.

 I loved parties; I loved the cute colors and design. I loved perky.  But, nevertheless, I'd stress on party day.

 Being a closet party girl,  I would strategize over how to have a pristine birthday napkin to add to my collection.

 It was a no-brainer when the mom made a white or yellow cake.  Ahh, I could hide any stains.

  But then there was always a mom who had just ripped a recipe out of her Better Homes and Gardens of the newest chocolate cake. Those moms were just show-offs!

 Chocolate was trickier to keep clean.

 Maybe I could wipe my mouth on my arm or on the inside of my dress or if I was really brave I'd ask the chatty mom if I could get an alternate napkin.

I'm pretty sure if a kid did that today, he'd be in the sequel to "About a Boy" or "Martian Child".  That's just weird.  But sometimes kids don't know that their likes can creep out other people.

I wish I still had that box of all of the birthday napkins throughout my childhood.

So on this blog,  you will probably see my food displayed on fun napkins because it's ok and kinda trendy to be weird or nerdy now.

Oh, and what's the deal on the title?  I always have some kind of chocolate every evening even if it's a few chocolate chips.

 And the dog thing?  Sometimes, I eat cereal so when dinner isn't newsworthy, that's when I'll talk about the funny things my dog does.

 Oh and I love thunderstorms so I might throw in a good lightening story.