On a dreary summer afternoon I was wandering through the downtown core in Langley City.
I was wondering where the sun was and where July had gone. The days and weeks seem to be moving just a bit faster than they used to. Maybe that’s why I gravitate back to this old Langley Prairie setting once in awhile, time moved slower back then, the summer days were longer and there were fewer people and places.
This particular day, I wandered into a candy store on Fraser Highway, about where Kathy’s dress shop used to be, for you old timers. Just between the Five to Dollar and The Golden Pagoda, if you haven’t placed it yet.
Obviously, the concept of this store is to revive the memories of your youth and make your mouth water. As soon as you realize you don’t have to turn around and ask your Mom if you can buy some candy cigarettes, the whole place becomes a temptation.
They attack the Baby Boomers right away with boxes labeled, Candies of the Fifties or Candies of the Sixties. On the box they list the selection of Tootsie Rolls, Lifesavers, candy necklace, wax bottles, remember, with the juice inside? Each box contains sweets that bring back memories like the one of my Uncle who always carried Lifesavers.
On the shelf are some Pop Rocks that you let dissolve on your tongue and that reminds me of the excitement of dropping a root beer Fizzie tablet in a glass of ice cold water, and ‘Making Ice cold soda pop in an instant!’
There is a display of Pink Candy Popcorn with the pink elephant on the box, Mike & Ike candies and all the assorted chocolate bars we used to scrimp and save for. All of these treats are making a comeback knowing that our generation now carries tens and twenties in our pockets instead of nickels and dimes like we did back then. Back when bubble gum machines had penny slots or nickel slots and a bag of potato chips was full to the top.
On the wall is a selection of new/old lunch kits, smaller replicas of the ones we carried to school each day. I shed a tear knowing my old Hop Along Cassidy lunch box and thermos is selling now for $300 to $500, depending on the condition. If I still had it and pounded out the dent from where I whacked one of my brothers, I could make enough to buy licorice pipes, bubble gum cigars, salt water taffy, Jujubes, Sen Sens, Shoe Laces and All Sorts.
There is cooler containing Orange Crush, grape pop and I spy bottles of Pop Shoppe Black Cherry soda that I know from experience does not mix well with Canadian Club, another story for another rainy day.
Today, childhood obesity is a major concern and that’s certainly not all to do with candy. But I remember when any one of the delicacies listed above was a once in awhile treat, something you found in your Christmas stocking or got on your birthday. Most often it was purchased with allowance money, something you had earned and very seldom did mom or dad fork out money on a whim to buy candy.
The store is called Sticky’s Candy. If you can’t find it, your kids or grandkids will.
At least that’s what McGregor says.