Today as I began to feel better, I took advantage of the free time to visit all of you dear friends. When I was over in Maine at Midlife Mom's place (while she's vacationing in Florida), I enjoyed her visit down memory lane.
What was really funny is that I have been planning for quite some time to do a post on gum wrapper chains. It was nice to know I was not the only one of our "era" to have made one.
When I was in high school, it became quite the rage to have one of these chains in progress. Some liked to make them out of every different kind of gum. I chose Wrigley's Spearmint. I don't know if it's because I liked that flavor the best, or I wanted it to be white. Maybe it's why I don't chew gum any more! (I think the real reason I don't chew gum is, besides the fact that I think it's a very irritating looking habit, it is so pointless - if I'm going to expend that much energy chewing something, I want some satisfaction from swallowing it!) But I digress.
I truly believe we should have bought stock in Wrigley's company - we were buying so much gum. Don't ask me where I got the money. Of course, it was probably a nickel a pack in those days! I don't remember when we had the time to do this. I can't imagine that I was doing it during class, because I never did anything at school that would get me in trouble.
The story is that you were supposed to make the chain as long as your boyfriend was tall. There was something about burning it at some point, but that part is lost to me. Anyone out there remember that piece of the puzzle?
Since I didn't have a boyfriend, my imaginary guy had to be at least 6 ft. 2 inches tall, so that I could wear my three-inch spikes and still have him be taller than I. I had grown to 5 ft. 10 inches by this time. I did it - a 74-inch gum chain. What in the world did I do with it? I wish I had it now to do a show and tell!
As it turned out, my freshman year in college I had a boyfriend that tall. Long story, destined to end. The "rancher" that I told about in my "100 Things About Me" was that tall. A couple other guys I dated were that tall. But the guy who won my heart is not. I wore flats for my wedding. We're about the same height. Good thing I didn't have the chain to measure him by! Height just doesn't matter. Not at all. It's all about his heart, his soul, his kindness, his love.
But it is a fun(ny) memory!
(Some people mentioned in Midlife Mom's comments that they didn't remember how to make the gum wrapper chain. Check out this site - I don't remember cutting them in half, but maybe I did. It was a long time ago!)
IMPORTANT: Don't stop praying for Ladybug (Margarita Martinez) who is still missing. Pray for her mother, Cynthia, and her entire family. Let Cynthia know that you are praying!
15 comments:
I remember those chains--I did't chew much then---but I made very short ones (as I remember it).
I chew a lot more sugarless gum now because of .....BAD BREATH!!! Mints just make my breath worse especially if I have coffee breath!
Dawn,
I do hope you are feeling better and am glad that you are taking another day off work. Please get some rest.
I have emailed Cynthia and have a photo of Ladybug on my blog. I am praying for the entire family and for Ladybug's safe return.
Blessings,
Mary
We made those gum wrapper chains, too! I remember making them a lot longer that 6 feet though. I do remember something about making them as long as your boyfriend was tall, and something about burning the chain, but the details escape me. That was 35 years ago or more!
I wondered about Ladybug. Bless Cindy's heart.....
Hope you continue to improve and feel better. It took me ages to actually feel almost normal after I had the flu in December!
Love and hugs,
Diane
Haha! That is a funny one! I hate to remember what silly things were popular when I was in school! lol
Anyway, I'm so glad you're on the mend. Takes you through a loop, doesn't it?
I've been keeping up with Cynthia's blog for a while, now, and I'm so sorry that this is happening to them. They'll continue to be in my prayers, as will you -
God bless you, dear friend!
Chrissie
Sounds like you're feeling better, I hope it continues upward! I remember those gun chains, but mine were never more then 12 inches.
I am praying for Cindy. I can't even imagine what she is going through. I pray also for Ladybug.. that she is safe and remains so...
God bless
Good Morning Dawn,
I remember hearing about the Chewing Gum Chains, but I never made one. I don't guess I was that talented to make things like that and I'm still not. LOL. "THANK YOU" for such a wonderful memory of the past. I am still praying for Cynthia and Ladybug and her family. I have posted about Ladybug on my post for today. I do pray that she will come home soon. I'm glad you are feeling better as well and I do pray it won't hit you again. Take care my friend and have a great day. May God Bless You and Yours.
Love & Hugs,
Karen H.
How funny!!!!
Susan
Great fun Dawn!! Yes indeed, I did make a gum chain. I was going with my husband in high school - so it is as tall as he is. Fortunately he is average height (around 5' 11"). I think I still have it in a box somewhere. Thanks for bringing back such a fun memory.
Dawn~ thanks for bringing back a lost memory for me. I didn't remember making it according to how tall my boyfriend was but maybe I did. How does stuff like that get started and then kids everywhere are doing the same thing? Interesting!!!!!
I did make chewing gum chains but I think we only made ours long enough for bracelets...
I did have a tall boyfriend...but I didn't make my chain long enough to be as tall as him...
I had forgotten some of the nutty things we did...
I am still praying for Cynthia and Ladybug...I pray for her safety and Cynthia's peace of mind...
Mimi
Ummm. I don't recall that we had to make them as long as our boyfriend was tall, but maybe that was the point of it all. We had to sneak the chewing of the gum because, according to my mother, ladies did not chew gum -- only cows!!!! :) Maybe your link will get the craze going agin. I think I will have to teach the grands how to make them.
Great, I think we must have done everything wrong as children! We made communion cups out of ours! Or maybe they were wine glasses but we weren't allowed to do that so they became communion cups!
I remember those chains. I had a verrrrrry loooong one, but I don't know what happened to it. I've thought many times that I wish I had kept it.
Oh yes...I do remember gum wrapper chains. Even today I do something with gum wrappers that I did during that era...making little tiny goblets out of the silver part of the stick gum.
Be healed...and many blessings to you.
What a fun memory! We used to have special, creative, artsy ways to fold important notes. The notes usually said "I like you. Do you like me? Check one - YES or NO".
I know, the epitomy of maturity...
I also remember "slam books", which I adored. I also recall having several confiscated by foot tapping teachers with arched eyebrows. ooops.
I had my own hobby in Jr. High and part of high school. I used to take McDonald's straws - the ones with a yellow and ared stripe were the only ones that worked - and I would gnaw on them with my teeth until the entire straw was cut into a spiral. I have the TMJ to prove it!
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