Mementos

Goofy Grape.
Choo-choo Cherry.
Rootin’ Tootin’ Raspberry.
Jolly-olly Orange.

Long before there was an internet, before there was a Disneyland in Paris, and before anyone considered ordering a grande Caramel Macchiato while driving their car, these four little guys were the proud 3-D representatives of the “Funny Face” drink mix line. They were the “ramp walkers”, a giveaway toy promotion. We might have had them at some time in our home, but as a child I was notorious for losing and/or destroying things like that.

I remember mixing up pitchers of Funny Face when I was a youth, and was saddened to see their cyclamate-laden visages removed from the local grocery store in the late 1970’s.

But the years went on, and there were other things to drink, and some growing up to do.

I got a job, left home, got married, had two daughters, got divorced, and for my trouble I became twenty years older. And a few years wiser.

Before there was a Michael, before there was a blended family of stepsisters, before I entered into marriage the second time, I saw these little characters again in a china cabinet, standing guard against a set of Fiestaware dishes, cups and bowls; a china cabinet that happened to belong to a woman I had recently met.

As soon as I saw them there, I knew this woman was the one. I mean, she had the Funny Face ramp walkers, for crying out loud! Complete with the matching weight coins!

She and I continued to date for over a year, and my resolve only strengthened: I knew there was no way I was going to let her go. So I kept it a secret to myself. Kept it all the way until the following June, on the day of the summer solstice.

On that day, I took this wonderful woman up to the grounds of Pittock Mansion, a local historical site with a commanding view of all of Portland and the Willamette valley. I had with me a bag full of surprises. She was intrigued by my mysterious plans.

I led her to a park bench beneath a willow tree, and from the bag extracted a leather-bound book entitled “The Forgotten Princess”. The book was hand-written in calligraphy, and told the story of a girl who grew up not knowing she was a princess, and a boy who grew up not knowing he was a prince.

The story goes on to say how the prince and princess lived out their lives, each of them under an evil spell. Then one day a fairy godmother introduced the prince to the princess. Instantly the spells they were under were broken, and they saw each other for who they really were.

The story concludes with the prince asking the princess to marry him. As I read her this part, I flipped a few pages and took a diamond ring out of a small cut-out section of the book. I got down on one knee and placed the ring on her finger, and asked her to marry me.

She gave me her answer, and with my pen I finished the story: “And the princess said yes, and they lived happily ever after.”

And living happily we are indeed.

Happy Valentine’s day, everyone!