Hot Tamales and Aunt Christine

When I was a kid and my father brought me candy, it was a special treat. As much as I love candy, it is not because I got a lot of it when I was a kid. We didn't have candy everyday and we didn't have dessert after every dinner. My mother would sometimes have ice cream in the freezer and after everyone got a dish of ice cream, the half gallon container was usually gone. In the summertime, Mom would buy Popsicles and those, too would disappear within a couple of days. She really didn't keep many sweets in the house and usually when I snuck something from the pantry, it would be a granola bar or a handful of chocolate chips from an old, random bag. I wasn't deprived, but I always wished I could have more candy.

I got the candy when I went to the movies with my friends. Usually my friends would head towards the popcorn and soda, but I would take my money right over to the candy counter. I loved the movie-sized candy boxes and remember always being disappointed once I opened the box. Such a big box to then just put a bag half its size inside with the candy. There were a few boxes of candies that actually had the complete box filled with candy inside. You would only know this from experience of buying at least one of every candy at the counter over your lifetime. These candies are Good N Plenty, SnoCaps, Raisinettes, Dots, Swedish Fish and Hot Tamales.

I remember not daring to try the Hot Tamales. The cinnamon flavored candy had a flame on the box and I did not want to end up with something that might be too spicy. I opted for the Good N Plenty instead- the candy-coated licorice in pink, purple and white. The old-fashioned box was appealing and I liked candy that took awhile to chew, it lasted longer. My absolute favorite was the SnoCaps, basically a chocolate chip covered with nonpareils. Crunchy and chocolaty, these made the best snack at a movie. Most people would eat several pieces at a time- or even a handful. Not me. I ate one candy at a time, making sure the box would last me through the movie.

One time, while hanging out at my Aunt Anita and Uncle J.D.'s shop, Dancin' Tables, one of my other aunts showed up in the late afternoon. Aunt Christine was probably coming directly from work, as she looked all dressed up and smelled like perfume. I remember thinking how she was so professional looking and must have had an important job. We sat on the swing under the wooden roof. I'm sure my other cousins must have been running around somewhere, but for the time being we were on the swing alone.

She said, "Have you ever tried a Hot Tamale?" I said, "No, I've seen them at the movies, but they look too spicy for me." She said it was her favorite candy as she reached into her purse and pulled out the box. The box was the same box they had at the movie theater. I tried one and they were delicious. There was a little bit left in the box when Aunt Christine got up to leave and she left the box with me.

Hot Tamales are amongst my favorite candies now, too, just like Aunt Christine. When I see them in the candy aisle, living next to Good N Plenty, Jujubes, Jujifruit, SnoCaps and Raisinettes, all the same size boxes, it reminds me of this moment in my life. How happy I was to be on the receiving end of the newly discovered candy, Hot Tamales. Now they have Hot Tamales FIRE! brand which are even hotter. I have tried those, too. But I still like my regular Hot Tamales, just one more thing (among the many) that I have in common with my aunt.