Today's chalkboard brings me back to the 1970's and the memories of mapping out the cartoons in the Chicago Tribune TV guide. My dad wouldn't let me use his Sun Times TV guide. When I look back in my mind I am always wearing thick pajamas made out of that cheap polyester fabric so popular at the time. My dad is off running errands and my mom is on the phone in the kitchen smoking a cigarette.
I would make a bowl of cereal and pour the milk all by myself! I think this feat alone was the beginning of my love of cooking in the kitchen! It all started with 1 part Captain Crunch Peanut Butter, 1 cup Honeycombs and a lot of whole milk.
The ottoman in front of the Zenith! Pillow and blankey, check! Television guide, check! Cereal, check! I sit there nestled in my settlement of living room between a television the size of a coffin and a butt butter brown corduroy ottoman. This was my world until my mom wanted to vacuum or my dad wanted to watch World War Two documentaries or Charlie Chan movies.
Forty years later and I am the father, but I am the one who wants to watch cartoonies! I have to force the Shepkids to watch cartoons. As a father I have found out how short a shelf life cartoons have for my kids. Cartoons today are made for tighter age groups than the cartoons of yesteryear. Bugs Bunny is perfect for ages birth to death, but forget about getting a seven year old to watch "Elmo" or an eleven year old to watch "Little Einstein's." "Those are for babies Dad!"
Going back to todays chalkboard...... "Always remember to tell people how important they are to you." is the quote.
I reminisce about my parents roll in the make or break of the length of my Cartoon fort in the living room, but I can't regret that I never let them know how important they were and how much I loved them. Today many of you will receive a text or call with this message! "I love you and you are an important part of my life."
