Written by When I thought of the prompt today, my mind leapt to that famous campaign for M&Ms where they advertised that it “Melts in your mouth, not in your hand.” One of the commercials in the 80’s depicted a bartender on a hot beach who grabs a handful of the candy and holds it while mixing drinks. Ice cubes fly magically through the air as he prepares the cocktails, but the real magic comes at the end when upon opening the palm of his hand, the M&Ms are perfectly intact. It was a ridiculous scene, but very memorable. I did switch for a time in the early 80’s to Reese’s Pieces, of course, because those were the kind that E.T. favored. Apparently, Spielberg wanted M&Ms, but the company unfortunately declined, so kids everywhere made Hershey’s very happy that year. I’ve no idea why all of this came to mind instead of a simple chocolate bar, but that’s just how my mind works sometimes.
I also remember that people had their favorite colors, even though they all tasted exactly the same. Red M&Ms disappeared for over a decade, replaced with orange, as the dye was thought to cause cancer. The year after E.T. was released, the red ones triumphantly returned, but it wasn’t until the mid-90’s that the blue ones arrived to replace the odd tan color that nobody claimed to prefer. This color was actually chosen by consumers who also had an option of pink or purple to replace the tan ones. Personally, I preferred the green ones, which have thankfully been around the whole time. It’s been years since I’ve had these, but the memories are wonderful to look back on. And even if those tan ones were a bit odd, it’s a memory that kids today will never experience. Something that only people of a certain age will ever remember and can now tell their children, “Ah yes, back in my day, the blue ones were actually tan.”
I’m not sure why, but it feels good to have these unique memories. Simple things like telephones with a cord, camera film, or maps made of paper that made it possible to actually get lost sometimes. Though, it’s admittedly nice to know exactly where you are most of the time, getting lost was actually part of the adventure on family road trips. Change is inevitable and things will continue to progress, but I’ll always have a soft spot for those things that we left behind. I often wonder what things I’m enjoying today that will no longer exist in 20 years. Will those printed books on my shelf seem like a lovely antiquated idea? It’s not entirely possible to know for certain what the future will bring. Despite the changes in color, it makes me happy to know that M&Ms still exist. That every memory hasn’t been completely replaced by something new. And so, as life continues to advance to places we never knew it might go, I’ll always have very fond memories of those days of chocolate melting in your mouth, not in your hands.
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About the DoodlewashDa Vinci Paint Co.: Da Vinci Yellow, Da Vinci Orange, Da Vinci Red, Leaf Green, Cobalt Turquoise, Burnt Sienna, and Cobalt Blue. Lamy Al-Star Safari Fountain Pen with sepia ink in an A5 Hahnemühle Watercolour Book. |
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Bringing another smile. Always love the endings of your stories. I too, remember the tan. Strange, they all taste the same. Wish I could say it’s been years since I’ve enjoyed them.
They seem to be the staple here for Halloween and I always have to get into one of those little bags before the treaters do. 😃. It’a lovely and welcoming jar of M’s yiu painted tonight. You must treat yourself. 😄
Thanks so much, June! 😃💕 Aww Halloween candy is the best! It makes me wish I had kids to get some! hehe… I think I’ll be indulging a bit come Halloween this year!
I sure hope so 👻👿👺😈🤡🤠
Yet another yummy treat! I especially like the way you’ve painted the candies and the glass refections.
Thanks so much, Sharon! 😃💕 I love these little treats! hehe
Gorgeous! Sweets in a jar are just endlessly alluring, not to mention rather ‘old-time’ in itself, taking you back to the sweet shop. I don’t remember the tan M&Ms, so this must be going way back 😉 I do however remember when Starburst were called Opal Fruits, and Polos came in a citrus flavour. They were the days!!!
Thanks so much, Jacob! 😃💕 Ahhhh… Citrus Polos are still something you’ve made me wish I had experienced!! We need to bring them back!!!
Fantastic! These look real enough to eat!
Thanks so much, Sandra!! 😃💕
Lovely memories and painting, Charlie! Those were always a favourite treat of daddy’s … until the peanut m&m’s came out and then those were IT! 😀
My daughter and grandson (almost 14) were talking about something the other day and she showed him a photo of a rotary dial phone … he was shocked. lol We are spoiled by today’s technology and while I’m very nostalgic for my childhood memories, I would cry buckets if someone took away my iPhone and Kindle. lol
Thanks so much, Von! 😃💕 I love the peanut ones!! YUM!! And totally true!! lol As much as I adore those memories, I couldn’t imagine not having a fun that’s actually “smart.” 😉
AHHH such pretty colors. I must admit, until I found out a few years ago that I have celiac disease I always preferred Smarties. A Canadian brand. Yummy. Now though, It’s all M&M’s (ok, not usually, but sometimes they’re a treat like Christmas time)
Aww… I loved Smarties as well! But now, they’re just too sweet for me. 😊 M&M’s are awesome… I say, just enjoy whenever you can! 😃💕
Mmmmmmmm. Now I want M&M’s. Your fault AGAIN! ;o)
haha!! Sorry… 😊😇
Yum in a jar! I’m a smarties fan, too, but I do try to limit wheat, so they are a treat now and then. 😉
Thanks so much, Susan! 😃💕 Yeah… most of these I just have every so often. It’s been years since I’ve tried Smarties though.
I love reading your rambles… makes me smile. I personally don’t know how you can come up with a story every single day to match (somewhat) the daily prompt. But you do!! BTW, I Finally received a prize I won.. the Stonehedge hotpress paper and I’m anxious to try it. I’ve given up on my prizes from Cheap Joe’s and Daniel Smith as it’s been way over a month now since I won them & they’ve never arrived.
Has anyone else had this experience?
Yes, Kay, I received my Hahnemuhle paper and the watercolor pen, but not the travel-sized paint palette, and I won that first. Charlie wrote that there were some delays with deliveries, so fingers crossed they may show up yet.
Yes! Give it a week, but please let me know if you don’t receive them!
Aww thanks so much, Kaye! 😃💕 I’m so happy you enjoy my rambles! And as for prizes, there was a delay on some but I was assured that Da Vinci (Daniel Smith didn’t provide prizes) and Cheap Joe’s have now shipped. Please let me know if you don’t receive them by the end of next week!
Obviously you’re not only painter but also a good writer Charlie 🙂
aww thanks so much, Nay! 😃💕 I do love writing and that’s really part of my art and posts!
Charlie wonderful candle n glass painted . The sweet memories gives so much pleasure.once i went to Dive beach in India
In a shop , written a dancing Lassi. Means
The boy took out the glass of curd ,mix with ice n so fast he throw it up the sky
And at list 15 m. He him self dancing
N catched. People sit there to watch his dance.this first time shharing with u.thanks.
Thanks so much, Snehlata! 😃💕 Yeah, sounds just like the commercial! hehe… a bartender with quite a theatrical presentation. So fun!!
I remember that campaign very well, but as any mom can tell you m&m s can and will melt in your child hot little sticky hand. Lol, but that is part of the fun memories we cherish as time goes on.
hehe… yeah… I think that’s why so many of the commercials only showed adults producing the magical non-melting effect! LOL 😃💕
Enjoying your paintings AND your stories. Looking forward to the next post.
Aww thanks so much, Mary!! 😃💕 I’m so happy you enjoy my posts!!
Green M&M preferer here, too. I never really got on board with the whole blue thing. Too newfangled. 😀
Though I did get to stop at the m&m store and museum in Vegas once, and they have literally every. single. color. I wish I was painting then; I’d have had a fun little sketch from that, for sure….