February 17, 2011
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Skittles
Last night my dear friend Rosanna gave Kaitlyn a bag with Valentine's candy in it. Kaity, who is Rose's namesake was delighted to see all the little bags of Skittles. "M & Lim's!" she exclaimed with the biggest grin that she can do. M & M's are her very favorite.
I had to smile, thinking back on her older siblings' introduction to Skittles. As many of you know, we spent a large portion of our older children's lives in Guatemala. We were there when Skittles candy made it's debut.
It was the spring of 1992 when we were on furlough and we had bought our first schoolbus to drive back to Central America to sell. We stopped for the weekend in Summersville, MO visiting with friends there.
When we were ready to leave Effie Weirich brought a package for our children to enjoy on the trip. I still remember their delight over the two 2 pound bags of Skittles. Our children were crazy about M & M's so this was a wonderful thing for them....they didn't get M & M's often as they weren't "Guatemalan". The only time they got those or Tootsie Rolls, Pringles and the like was when company came to visit or whenever we were on furlough. Wow, 4 whole pounds of those delicious bits of chocolate!
After getting permission, which was barely a mile down the road, the youngsters tore the first bag open. "Oh, these M & M's have some different colors!" Into their mouths popped a handful each. The surprise was not what anyone expected. Out they came with a wail: "These aren't M & M's!" Those children really thought the Skittles company had done them a dirty trick. It was a long time before they would condescend to eat any more Skittles...we actually gave the second bag of them to some other unsuspecting missionary kids! I laugh at that because I do think they all like them now. But M & M's still are the first choice.
(I also remember Susana didn't like Gummy Bears either. Too chewy. I can still see the rejected gummy bear laying on the ground where she spit it out.) Talk about picky eaters. I think though, had they been forewarned it wouldn't have been so bad, but they did learn that looks were deceiving.
Now, I wondered how Kaitlyn would react. I didn't see her reaction but she tells me that they are Skittle M &M's. Ok. She also received a little box of chocolates. I asked her if she wanted to give her big brother Marvin a piece of candy. She quickly and emphatically informed me that it wasn't candy..."It's chocolate!"
Speaking of Pringles reminds me about a time when Marvin was 3 or 4 years old. William Bear usually came to Guatemala to visit on a yearly basis. He always brought us some candy: Smarties, M & M's and Tootsie Roll; and Pringles. How Marvie loved Pringles. He looked forward to William's annual visit with gusto.
One year the plane in which William was traveling, overshot the runway while landing in Guatemala City and crashed. The plane crash was big news and everyone was talking about it. I asked Marvie if he knew that William Bear was in that plane that crashed.
Marvin looked serious and stated simply. "I hope the Pringles didn't get crushed!"
Tootle do, Kim
Comments (3)
I don't care for Skittles either. Much rather have plain M&M's or with peanuts. The pretzel ones aren't too bad, but still prefer the others.
I remember that!! It took me a long time before I could like skittles for what they are! I read this to Holly and she said "OOOOH so that explains why Benj HATES skittles so!"
Benj is soooo set in his ways. I am not surprised that he never let himself like them. Just like him, isn't it?