Mo's Manic Monday - Seven

Posted: Monday, July 09, 2007 by Travis Cody in
33



Welcome to another Manic Monday with Mo. Don't forget to cruise by MM HQ at It's A Blog Eat Blog World. Today's theme is Seven.

When I was about 10, my parents divorced and my younger sister and I were raised by our single mom. We lived about an hour and a half from my grandmother, and so we made lots of weekend trips over to the San Francisco Bay Area to visit. They were like little vacations for us. We would laugh and sing in the car during almost the entire drive.

I remember the first time we tried to take a short cut through Hayward to get to the San Mateo Bridge. We ended up getting lost! Trust me, if there is a way to lose a large body of water like a bay and a huge bridge...we found it!! These were our little adventures.

Anyway, that shortcut turned out to be the best thing because we passed right by a 7-Eleven convenience store. Sometimes Mom would give in to our begging and stop for Slurpees. But sometimes she didn't stop, and we'd be forced to wait until we got to Gram's.

My sister and I were Slurpee-holics in those days.

My Gram was the best. She was a fireplug of a redhead and she was so much fun when I was a kid. She'd take us to the Walgreen's in Tan Foran Mall. And then we'd have adventures in parking. She'd drive and drive around the parking lot until "her" spot opened up right near the Sears entrance. My sister and I would play scout, keeping an eye on the entrance and watching for people heading to their cars. And then, just like that, Gram's spot would open up and she'd swing the big caddy in like a pro.

Honestly! Can you imagine a woman all of 4'9" wrangling a huge 1970's model Cadillac around a parking lot?

After our triumph in the parking lot, we'd walk in through Sears. This was my first experience with any large shopping mall. Gram would always take us to the toy store and the pet store. Sometimes she'd need to stop at a shoe store, and she always picked the one next to the book store so we could brouse while she got her shoes.


Then Gram would head over to the Walgreens where she'd pick up her necessaries, as she called them. Once in awhile we'd get new coloring books and the small boxes of new Crayola crayons. Of course we'd lust after the big box of 64 with the built-in sharpener.

After all this shopping came the real treat. We'd scoot next door to the cafe for grilled cheese sammiches and hot fudge sundaes!

But the best...the ultimate...the grandest thing about going to Gram's? She lived around the corner from 7-Eleven!! Can you imagine? It was heaven for a couple of Slurpee-holics like me and my sister. After a day of racing big wheels or skates down the big hill, or building legos and tinker toys in the backyard, or drawing and coloring on the big dining room table, what could be better than Gram handing us a dollar and sending us around the corner for Slurpees?



My grandmother has been gone for nearly 20 years. But my grandfather still lives in that same house. And right around the corner is that same 7-Eleven. In fact, last year when I went down for my cousin's wedding, my sister and I introduced my niece to the joy of walking around the corner for a Slurpee.


33 comments:

  1. Travis, darling! What a wonderful post. I love the memories. It made me remember my own childhood memories of going to the drugstore with my sister to spend our allowances on candy, or waiting for the Mr. Softee truck to stop in front of our house.

    Marvelous, marvelous post.

  1. Anonymous says:

    This post just made me so happy just by reading it!

    You tell stories well.

    I look forward to being a grandma someday. I want to be a cool one like yours.

  1. Anonymous says:

    i enjoy reading your story. thanks for sharing.

    happy monday!

  1. Anonymous says:

    Great post, Trav! I love this story and your wonderful memories of this awesome woman that was your Gram. My Mom is 4'9 and used to drive a big Ford Station wagon. She carried a big (huge) purse back then (don't know how she carried the darn thing, hahaha) and she would stuff it behind her on the car seat so she could reach the steering wheel and peddles cuz the seat wouldn't go far enough forward for her tiny reach. Thanks for reminding me of this... and thanks for sharing your precious memories.

  1. Travis, that was such a great story. I could smell the Slurpee machine and could visualize all the events at the mall. Those were such special days for all of us and they were so simple. Who says you can't go home again? Sometimes, for a moment, it's possible...thanks!

  1. Anonymous says:

    I've never had none of them Slurpee things, but they sounds good. I knows I likes them Scooby Snacks you bring me.

    I send you a big wet lick!
    Reba

  1. Janna says:

    Ooooh, I love Slurpees!!
    I haven't had one in YEARS.
    I want a Slurpee!

  1. Slurpees are the BEST! I adore them. I didn't have my first one till I was 17. Hmm, a good reason to like that year.

  1. Julie says:

    I love listening to your memories with Gram. Such adoration in your words, dear.

    **hugs**

    I don't think I've ever had a Slurpee but then we don't have 7/11's around here. I'll have to keep my eyes open.

  1. ...A fireplug of a redhead. I've never heard of that before!

    Your gram sounds awesome.

  1. Anonymous says:

    Awesome trip down memory lane. :)

    those 7-11 Slurpees were the best weren't they!?

    Great MM post, Trav.

  1. Sandee says:

    What a wonderful story Travis. What part of the bay area did your grandma/grandpa live? I'm about an hour fifteen from the bay area. Have a wonderful MM. :)

  1. Schmoop says:

    I miss 7-11. We dont have any around here anymore. Oh, the Slurpees!! Cheers my good man.

  1. Unknown says:

    Beautifully written as usual, and so evocative. You have given us a vivid picture of an obviously precious part of your childhood. Thankyou.

  1. Lizza says:

    Sweet memories, Trav. You made me see how you and your sister revisited your childhoods when you introduced your niece to Slurpees. I live near a 7-Eleven, but I haven't had a Slurpee in years.

  1. Unknown says:

    What a great trip down memory lane. Another smoozing story - I love it!

    Well, the nearest 7-ELEVEn is about 3726.71 miles away... I want a Slurpee right now... ;)

  1. Great post, such fun memories, who doesn't love a slurpie!! YUM!

  1. what a great memory... and what a great post for 7! I loved Slurpees.

  1. Mary says:

    Wonderful post! Those are lovely memories :D

    I used to live in Hayward 6 yrs ago.

  1. Songbird: I got a nice warm fuzzy from this...glad you did too.

    Polliwog: She definitely could have written a manual on coolness.

    Mousey: And Happy MM to you too - thanks for cruising by.

    Alice: I remember we could never sit in the front seat because it was always pulled so far forward. We had a huge cavern in the back seat though!

    Gracie: You're right...sometimes, just for a moment in a wonderful memory.

    Reba: Slurpees are good for doggies.

    Janna: Don't ignore the Slurpee carving! I'm pretty sure you can get hives or something if you do.

    Nancy: I'm thinking I'll have to get one on my way home.

    Julie: You may have had an icee or a slushee...similar but not the same. They have them at movie theatres nowadays.

    Mags: She was so fiesty. Always revved up and ready to go.

  1. CWM: Thanks. Yup - slurpees always cooled us off.

    Comedy: My grandpa still lives in South City in the same house, and my aunt lives right around the corner from him.

    Matt: Dude! I would storm city hall!

    Pauline: You are most welcome. This was a very enjoyable post for me.

    Lizza: You must go and have one soon! Especially when it's so close.

    Sanni: Now that's just too far away!

    Michelle: Yup! Thanks for cruising by.

    Katherine: See! Raider & Dodger fans are people too!

    Mert: That last time I was down that way, I was surprised by how much had changed but also by how much I still recognized.

  1. Anonymous says:

    im so glad im not the only one with 7'11 fond memories;) my sister were that age once no i mean literally LOL i was 7 she was 11 we thought that was the greatest things... the slurpies ruled but the big gulps and a slim jim that was my fav;)

  1. Lisa Ryan says:

    nice memories Travis, they jogged my own. and our boys are slurpeeholics too - no 7-11 near us but a corner store that has a slurpee machine!

  1. Lisa Ryan says:

    and come claim your prize for five fun facts for friday! :-)

  1. hot fudge trav? alrighty then, you have my attention!

    smiles, bee

  1. That was a great post. I loved Seven-Elevens. Slurpees and comic books.

  1. Ian says:

    Dude, I totally MANAGED a 7-Eleven for five years. That's me, always aiming low career-wise.

    Ian

  1. Shelby says:

    beautiful post!

  1. What a wonderful childhood memory. Your grandmother waited for the "movie star" parking space, the one where the hero/heroine drives up and parks in front of any building they need to enter.

  1. what is it exactly with Grandparents and 7-11? Mine lived around the corner from one too and every trip would replenish my comic book collection

  1. Wolfbaby: I graduated to Big Gulps at some point, thinking that was a more age appropriate and cool drink. But then I learned the error of my ways and not it's back to Slurpees.

    Lisa: Any port in a storm eh? Woooo! I'm a winner!

    Bee: Yes Ma'am!

    John: Yup yup!

    Ian: Yeah - but you were a MANAGER!

    Shelby: Thanks!

    Jamie: Yes she did, and she was good at getting it too.

    Sparky: I don't know what it is, but I'm grateful for it.

  1. TopChamp says:

    wow - lots of comments. Slurpees sound fine! As do grilled cheese sarnies and choc fudge sundaes!! mmmmm.. Happy times - great that you've been able to pass them on to your niece too.

  1. NOLADawn says:

    Great post! We didn't have slurpees here, Icees are king :) What great memories to share.