PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME

I'd just made myself a cup of tea, and was throwing away my teabag, when I noticed the empty peanut butter jar laying in the recycling bin. “We've started a new jar of peanut butter!” I cried.

My husband, Steven and son, Alex both gave me a confused look.

“I finished it last night.” Alex said. “Why?”

“So no one's opened the new jar yet?” I was almost gleeful.

“I don't know.” Steven went to the cabinet pulled out the new jar and handed it to me.

I slowly unscrewed the lid and saw the foil covering still intact. “Best day ever!” I cried as I peeled the foil off and looked at the smooth top of the peanut butter. “Do you know how happy this makes me?” I smiled at both of them as I set the jar down on the counter and went into the cabinet to get an English muffin. “When you grow up in a big family, like I did, it's rare to have an untouched jar.” I explained as I popped the muffin in the toasted and slide the lever down. “When I was growing up the peanut butter jar always had crumbs or jelly in it.” I shuddered. “It was disgusting.” I leaned against the counter waiting for my muffin to be toasted.

“But our peanut butter jar never looks like that.” Alex argued. “I use a knife for the peanut butter and another knife for the jelly. I never mix the two.”

“I know.” I smiled at him. “That's not the point. It's the joy of a new jar that I'm talking about.”

Alex went into the cabinet and got out a box of cereal.

I pointed to the box. “Cereal was another thing that I only wanted to eat if it was a brand new box.”

“Why?” Alex took a bowl out of the cabinet.

“Because, back then, a lot of cereal had prizes in them.” Hearing the pop of the toaster I turned around pulled the muffin out, being careful not to burn my fingers.

“I remember that.” Steven said, he looked over at Alex. “They'd have all kinds of weird stuff. Nothing really great but everyone wanted it.”

“I'd come downstairs for breakfast, really looking forward to a bowl of Frosted Flakes and the bulging box would be open on the counter top. You'd just know, by looking at it, that someone was elbow deep digging around for that stupid prize.” I shuddered again as I spread the peanut butter on my muffin. “That would be the end of wanting to eat out of that box!”

“That is pretty gross.” Alex admitted.

“Oh that's just the beginning.” I took my peanut buttered muffin to the table as Alex came over with his bowl of cereal. “Getting breakfast with seven kids running around was just crazy.” I shook my head.

“Well, don't worry it's not like that anymore.” Steven said, sitting down at the table to visit with us.

“Yeah.” Alex agreed. “I've stopped drinking right out of the milk container years ago!”

“What!” I could actually feel my stomach flip just thinking about it.

“Just kidding.” Alex laughed as he patted my arm to reassure me. “Just thought I'd bring back another childhood memory for you!”