Remember When

REMEMBER buying cookies at the bakery and paying by the pound for the assortment that you (or your mother…but not some cookie conglomerate 20 states away) picked out? You could get two chocolate crescents, half a dozen sugar cookies, and whatever else you wanted. The bakery lady would weigh your selections, place the cookies in a white box, wrap it with string, and give it to you.

There were, of course, no preservatives in the cookies. You bought them fresh-made, and even if your mother rationed you to two a day (as mine did), with the help of your family they had vanished in no time.

Candy was purchased similarly—not as a prepackaged assortment from Russell Stover or Whitman's, but to your specifications at a confectioner's where they created their own candies in the back room, each with a different-designed swirl on top to clue in the candy store workers as to what lay within the chocolate coating: marshmallow, caramel, nuts, maraschinos, or some other delight. Again, you picked out what you wanted, in the quantities you wanted, paid by the weight, and never got stuck with some type that no one in the family liked.

And, REMEMBER jellied fruit slices? Sugared lemon, lime, and orange slices, they were considered healthier than chocolates because they were made of real fruits, and if you had an acne problem, a chocolate allergy, or for some other reason were avoiding chocolate, they were a way to enjoy sweets without eating the forbidden substance.

REMEMBER—Reader George M. sends us some favorite sayings from mothers. Did your mom use any of these? "You are walking on thin ice." "Wait till you have kids of your own." "I was young once too." "We all have to do things we don't want to do." "Get in there and clean the ring around the tub. That's your mess, not anyone else's."

REMEMBER the jingle for White Rain Shampoo? "Use new White Rain Shampoo tonight/And tomorrow your hair will be sunshine bright." And, "Use Fitch Shampoo"? And, "I love Bosco. That's the drink for me…."?

And, remember to "tune in next month" for more memories!

Cynthia MacGregor is the author of 54 conventionally published books as well as a number of e-books. Besides writing, she also edits and does public speaking. Her Web site is CynthiaMacGregor.com.