Remember the joys of slipping a quarter into a metal slot and turning a knob to see what prize you had won? The toy rings would always be prominently sparkling in those little plastic bubbles in front, but nine times out of ten, I'd put in my quarter, hoping for a ring, only to see a rubber spider or a jaw breaker or something equally unexciting come tumbling out. Still, I had to try my luck whenever my folks had some spare change. Of course, that same quarter could also fetch a "ride" in a motorized car or airplane, which basically wobbled back and forth after you put your money in. They used to have them outside grocery stores, and I could usually score a quarter for a ride if I had behaved myself and not begged for too much on the candy aisle. But somehow, those rides lacked the thrill of the bubblegum/prize machine. Maybe it was because you knew what was going to happen. The element of surprise was lost. Cracker Jack understood that. When I was a kid, those Cracker Jack prizes were something. Nowadays, they tend to be of the paper variety—a press-on tattoo or a quiz or something. But in the sixties? Sometimes they required assembly (which is to say, they required my older cousin Richard). We're talking vehicles, fashion accessories—sometimes I couldn't wait to eat my way to my treasure and I'd dump that sticky popcorn into a bowl so I could quickly fish through it. I guess I've always been excited about loot—especially jewelry. When I was little, I had dreadful baby teeth (because I preferred orange juice to milk) and spent many long hours in the office of Dr. Ivan Smith in Childersburg. Dr. Smith was amazing—the calmest, most painless dentist you can imagine. But what made him truly wonderful is that, once you got your tooth pulled or filled or otherwise dealt with, his nurse would lead you to a special closet which held a tray of toy RINGS! And you got to pick one out for yourself. (Take that, bubblegum machine! No quarter required!) You cannot imagine how I would agonize over my choice. It didn't matter how much Novocaine I had ingested or how puffed with gauze my cheeks were, this was a serious decision, not to be rushed. I would hold my hand out and admire my selection all the way home. And so, while the bubblegum machine and Cracker Jack held a certain thrill, over time I came to appreciate the certainty of Dr. Smith and his beautiful tray of rings. I also learned to drink milk.
Love this,I remember those rings too, then
the dentist changed to giving free toothbrushes and tooth paste.
Please ask Suzan about the dentist visit and the banana, it's a true story :) we laugh about that too this day :)
Posted by: candy mccranie hicks | March 13, 2012 at 07:07 AM
Oh dear! Can't wait to hear that one!
Posted by: valerieluesse | March 13, 2012 at 12:48 PM