MUST HAVE PROVISIONS "OH BOO"

i haven't carried a purse for over eighteen years. hate them. i noticed the larger the purses, the more junk would find its way into them.

when we had toddlers in the house and out and about i found it much easier to have a fanny pack to carry the minimal necessities: my smokes, a lighter, identification, bank card, fishing license, lip therapy (avon - the best!), a notepad, fine point pen (pilot - the best!) AND THE MOST IMPORTANT ITEM, ALTOIDS PEPPERMINT CHEWING GUM! (THE best!)

i've since narrowed down what i carry and no longer use a fanny pack, but NEVER leave the house without id, phone, my jumbo mug of iced tea and MY ALTOIDS CHEWING GUM.

here awhile back they stopped carrying my gum of choice and after searching high and low, i FINALLY found another place to purchase it for the past three years. i was getting low a couple of months ago and upon going to get some more, the store told me they were not carrying it anymore - i asked perplexedly, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT CARRYING IT ANYMORE?!?" my favorite clerk replied, "supposedly altoids is not making the gum anymore." me, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN NOT MAKING IT ANYMORE?!?" her, "nope, not making it anymore."

...oh boo...

this devastating piece of news caught me off guard - so much so that i came home and went through every vehicle, every nook and crannie, every travel bag, coat and shirt pockets, candy dish, cannister, etc., until i finally found approximately three and a half tins with the beloved gum in them. when the family asks, "do you have some gum, mom?" i say, "well, i don't have enough for everyone - we'll stop up here and get you some." i've been rationing this gum like gasoline in the forties.

...oh boo...

now you may think this a little off plumb, but i also found a tin which had opened and several of the contents spilled on the floorboard, under the seat of one of the vehicles...oh sure they were a little scuffed, but i wiped them off and put one of them directly into my mouth...it was probably sixteen or eleven months old...and quite crunchy...

...oh boo...