28 March 2007
My exposure to Americana started early.
When I was maybe six years old, I was pulled out of the lunch line in school - not to get into trouble like I first thought - but to go out into the car park, where, sitting in the back of a car, I met a relative of my father. He had travelled from Scotland to the US as a young boy, lived his life there, got married, and when he retired, travelled back to Scotland with his wife for a visit.
They didn't have much time available, but they took the time out to come and meet us, and left with a promise - that if I ever made it to the US, he'd take me to Disneyland.
A year or so later, just before the 4th of July, his brother came to visit, and brought his wife and daughter, and her husband. My granny was ill with heart problems, but she rallied enough to attend the 4th of July barbecue (I think her words were "I'll go to this barbecue if its the last thing I do"... and it very nearly was... but that's another story) we organised in our back garden.
To make it all a bit more realistic, they'd brought mini stars and stripes flags with them, and there are many pictures of my sister and I very patriotically waving those flags (that it was patriotism for a country that wasn't ours didn't enter into our heads), but that's not the bit that has the most resonance in my memory.
Although they had no reason to, and didn't have to, they brought us presents. Simple presents, for sure, but, at least to me, priceless.
For me, there was a Velveteen Rabbit colo(u)ring book, and a box of 48 Crayola crayons, complete with gold and silver crayons!
The book was beautiful, and the story lovely and I literally loved it to death (and never actually coloured it in - it was too precious to ruin with my childish attempts at colouring), but the crayons - the crayons were special. For starters, you couldn't get a set of crayons with that many colours at that time.
For a moment, I was cool. I had more - and better - crayons than any of the other kids.
Of course, I used up, grew up and forgot about the crayons - save for occasional reminders of that barbecue and to be honest, I don't think I'd thought about it for a couple of years.
Until I was in Austin.
In a corner of the convention centre there was a huge play area. A massive lego pit next to a bunch of tables with paper, playdoh, pens, colouring books and yes, crayons and as I sat down and looked more closely, I saw the pack.
Pack upon pack of 48 crayons, there for the using.
... and as I picked one up, the memories came rushing back.
The smell of the wax, the feel of the wax and paper under my fingertips, and the childish excitement of having so many crayons. Surely 48 was the pinnacle of crayon selection.
Apparently not.
As I told the story to Mike he told me that not only do they have boxes of 48, they have boxes of 64, 96 and even 120 (and, I've since found out, 150) crayons.
150 colours of crayon. How my inner 7 year old rejoices.
I think my jaw dropped, and when Mike and Christine kindly took me to experience the Aladdin's Cave that is a Target store I had to go see for myself, and sure enough, there they were - a multitude of multiple crayon packs.
So of course, I bought one.
Not the 48 pack though - because 48 packs don't come with silver and gold any more, and I had to have me some metallic wax - but a 64, complete with in-the-box sharpener.
An in-the-box sharpener and metallic crayons?
How could I not.
My inner 7 year old is in crayon heaven once more.
a sharpener as well?! - fantastic, I want one!!!!
I just got hold of the special anniversary 120 box of crayons. I have no idea what to do with that amount of colors.
Oh, and Crayola.com is a wonderful place with lots of fun stuff. Not as fun as actually coloring with crayons, but still good.
And now on eBay express, The Crayola 150 Crayon Set with Telescoping Tower Case!
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