School Time

When I was young and going back to school each fall there was one thing that was on our supply list every year without fail. 

 

 

To this day, when school begins I am always reminded of that one thing.

 

 

 

Crayons!!!

 

 

 

 

When I first started school it was a box of 8 that we took to school.   Within a few years the typical box we took had 16 crayons, then 48, and by the time I was getting done with grade school it was the big box of 64 that we were all bringing to school. 

 

 

 

It was always fun to see who brought what size crayon box to school.  I won't say it was a contest.  In a small town where everyone knew everyone else and we all got along life was pretty easy going, but it was probably the closest we came to peer pressure in those days. 

 

 

 

No longer were we coloring the ocean blue, but asking "what shade of blue should I use?" 

 

 

 

I loved crayons.  I loved to color.  My favorite part?  The first time I used a brand new crayon.  I loved that nice point on the crayon.  Let's be honest, after a few strokes when the point had worn down, it just wasn't as dark and crisp when used.  But there was nothing like whittling that box of crayons down and having to peel the paper back as you went. 

 

 

 

You could always tell your favorites because they were broken, used and peeled back to a size that was barely big enough to hold in your hand, while the colors you liked the least looked brand new.  Well almost.  They had been used just enough to take that point off! 

 

 

 

Then they came out with crayon sharpeners... and soon after that the crayon sharpener was built into the box!  So kids like me could always go back to that pointed crayon that we loved so much when they were fresh out of the box, although it really never worked that well in my opinion. 

 

We had a grandson who started school this fall and I emailed my daughter to ask if kids still take Crayons to school.  I was happy to hear they do!

 

I remember my parents having an ice cream bucket of used crayons that they had collected over the years - likely left over from grade school years and grandkids.  It was so fun to dig around in that big bucket to find just the color you wanted. And there is something about the smell of crayons too. 

 

 

 

I was curious about Crayons and their history.  Did you know they have been around since 1903? That is 109 years!  Some colors have been retired over the years, while new colors have come out.  Some colors have had a name change to make them more politically correct.  And of course the colors have become more vibrant over the years.  There is even a Crayola Hall of Fame for retired colors. 

 

 

 

All this Crayon nostalgia has me wanting to get out my box of crayons.  I think it would sound odd if my friends asked me what I did last night and I said, "Oh I got out the Crayons and colored for a bit."  I feel I need some grandchildren here to justify that.  It would make me seem less nutty, if that is possible.

 

 

 

So grandchildren, please come visit.

 

 

 

SOON! 

 

 

 

Grandma B wants to color :)