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Day 3 ~ Gumdrop Man

December 03, 2005

ph_dec_gumdrop.jpg

This is my favorite ornament of all time. Yes, yes, I know you're thinking my taste is a bit odd, but for some reason I have a bizarre fondness for gumdrops. As a child, I had fantasies of living in a Gumdrop World, complete with Gumdrop Dogs laying in front of Gumdrop Fireplaces inside of Gumdrop Houses. The red ones are the BEST. Why do the candy colors that sparkle and shine through snow-covered sugary toppings captivate me so?

When I was about 4 or 5, my mom took me and David, my older brother to a department store where there was a huge ornament display. She told both of us we could pick out one ornament each. "Just one, Susie... just one."

I don't remember a bit of this, but my mom says that the moment I laid eyes on THE RED CREATURE, it was love at first sight. I snatched it up quicker than I could say, "Mine, Mine, ALL MINE!" greedily clutching it to my chest. How lucky was I? It was the ONLY ONE!

Mom didn't want me to just settle for the first ornament that came along (most mother's have a way of thinking this way) and encouraged me to at least look around and do some comparison shopping. No amount of cajoling could separate me from my new-found love. By the time we got to the cash register my knuckles were turning white, and the plastic sugar coating had made impressions in my tiny little fingers.

"Give the nice lady the ornament so she can wrap it up for you," she said.

I eyed the cashier suspiciously... could she be trusted with such a treasure? I had just found my heart's desire, and you want me to risk losing him? Mother must be NUTS!?

Mom recounted this story to me the first year this animation appeared in the Advent Calendar. What prompted the re-telling? I asked her one night over dinner, "You know, that weird little gumdrop ornament is my favorite, and I have absolutely NO IDEA why."

It really is true – first loves never die.

re-posted from last year's blog

Posted by vincent at December 3, 2005 12:00 AM

Comments

Ahh. As another said, its good to have you back. This blog bit is fun as well :-)

Posted by: Dave at December 3, 2004 12:53 PM

gumdrop man is funny...I liked him....kinda like the gingerbread man in Shrek :)

Posted by: annette at December 4, 2004 06:46 AM

My Gumdrop Man sent me this page of yours after encouraging me to have a blog of my own. No, first loves don't die.

Posted by: whispering ninja at December 5, 2004 03:41 PM

Thank goodness I explained this animation! Someone thought he was a rice krispie man! LOL

Posted by: Susan at December 9, 2004 12:04 AM

Susan - I am so enjoying your site and your thoughts and musings. I was one of those people that thought Gumdrop man was really Rice Krispie man. After closer examination I conceded. I love your site and have shared it with many.

With regard to your health, please take good care, keep good karma around you and stay warm!!!

Posted by: Karen at December 11, 2004 10:18 AM

Ah, what a nice way for us to play catch up with last year...

Posted by: dan at December 3, 2005 02:10 AM

So very nice to see you back. But wanted to let you know that Rudolf shows up as Dec 5 on my browser...first as Dec 2, but then later as Dec 5. We compulsive types have to stick together.

Posted by: Karen at December 3, 2005 08:34 AM

Mr. Gumdrop is oh, so cute.

Posted by: aola at December 3, 2005 12:12 PM

Spam comment deleted.

Posted by: Patrick Baker at December 20, 2005 09:33 AM