Our daily Bread

Blue Chip Stamps

They were the bomb. I can count three pleasures in having them:

1. Getting the stamps from the grocery store…Excitement level1
2. Filling up your your stamp book…Excitement level2
3. Getting enough stamp books filled to go to the blue chip stamp store and redeem something you want…Level3 Excitement!!!

Zodys

Another store I hated, it was always crowded, and you’d get bagged on if someone from school saw you going there, just like Pic n Save. But if you saw them on the inside you’d both keep it on the D-L.

Romper Room

Back when there was thoughtful television programming for kids with morals and lessons. Me and my sisters all appreciated romper room since it was around when each of us were of the age to enjoy it even though we are years apart. The hook was waiting for your name to be called through the Magic Mirror, that would set your day off!

Blow Out Kit

I always wanted a Blow Out but my mom wouldn’t let me get one. I wanted that big and soft fro like Michael Jackson and Prince.

…I had a tight Shag though!

Fedco

The Membership version of Walmart, the everything store. I used to hate having to go to Fedco, this was one of those shopping trips where even my dad would go on. All of us in the Ford Grenada and it seemed like it took all day.

8-Track Player

Everybody’s dad seemed to have one of these models of 8-Track players in their garage coming up. BTW how many songs did 8-Tracks hold seemed like 24+. I remember the Emotions 8-Track was pink…’You got the best of my love…’

Golf Hat

Another part of the gear for men and boys was the Golf hat. I remember putting it on and picking my fro out around the edges.

Zig Zags

Whether you call them Zig Zags, Crocasacks, or Winos they were a part of the gear back in the day.

The Old Sears

The Sears in Inglewood was cool. It had the escalators. As a kid used to play in the racks. I think they used to sell popcorn and other snacks downstairs. It had the tire shop and the back and the pickup dock for large orders, but my favorite was the gag store located on the property in the back Fun Haven, they sold Halloween Mask and had other small fun gifts items.

My mom was hooked on the Hawthorne Malls when it first opened. She would take me and my sisters there at least once a week. I used to love the dipped ice cream and the spot upstairs in corner they did the iron-ons, patches and Old English letters.