Another Christmas (this must have been pre-Bubba) my sister and I woke up Christmas morning to huge cardboard “toys” in the living room. Mine was a grocery store complete with an aisle and a cash register. It had groceries on the shelves. I think I had a shopping cart. It was almost full size. At least to us. I was a little girl and the grocery store was amazing!

My sister got another creation: a vanity complete with a stool and a mirror. Sorta a mirror. It was perfect for hair brushing, nails and makeup.

They were both made from an engineered marvel of cardboard. I’m sure Santa spent the night following some sort of instructions: Insert flap D into slot G.

I tried googling “cardboard grocery store” and other assorted keywords but didn’t find anything. I was hoping someone had an old photo captured. I think I have one somewhere….I just need to get my scanner working and the photos out of the box.

The year must have been 1960 or 1961. My sister is the keeper of my memory details. Hopefully she will remember the year.

Oh yes, the early clue. That I had dreams of being an entrepreneur even at the age of 5. I sold a bunch of groceries with that cardboard. I earned a bunch of “money”.

Edited to add: photo found!

Recently I was reminiscing about favorite childhood toys and another gal, about my age, mentioned her favorite toy.

I grinned big and a whole pile of memories about that exact toy crowded my brain.

I’m not sure if I got this toy for my birthday or Christmas but I suspect it was Christmas since San Antonio Christmases usually meant bikes on Christmas day, sans sweaters, and hopping on my pogo stick down the driveway. San Antonio Christmases also meant a trip to Joske’s to stand in line through “Toyland” or “Wonderland” with animated elves making toys, a train (huge!) and a sit and photo on Santa’s lap. (If I can get the scanner to work, I’ll upload photo of one of those Santa Photos.)

The fabulous Frosty Sno-Cone machine was such a treat.

Emmanuel. God is with us.

The breast cancer beast took victory in the last battle with another brave daughter of the King today.

Although the beast is a terrible creature, full of hatred and venom, she was carried off wrapped in God’s loving arms courtesy of His Son who won the war for eternity.

My heart is broken to have lost her here with us. I will miss Tricia.

Yet, my heart rejoices that I will see her again and that she has joined heaven’s population where she is no longer battling faithfully against her opponent.