Childhood Memories, 1960's, by Debra Bamberger

From MemoryArchive

Who: Debra Bamberger
What: Candy Store
When: 1960's
Where: Lebanon, Pennsylvania

One of my favorite memories from my childhood was going to the druggie or what would be known today as the pharmacy. Back in the late 1960's it was the corner drugstore, soda fountain, candy store, and the bread and milk store. My family lived about a block away from this store. My Dad worked at a welding shop which was about a half a block away from our home. After school I would go down to the welding shop and take orders for coffee for all the guys that were working, about ten workers in total. I would then go down to the sandwich shop across from the druggie and pick up their coffee. After I brought their coffee back to them they always gave me a tip, usually about a dollar and some change. I would take that money and go to the druggie. Once there, I would sit at the soda fountain and order a cheeseburger and a coke (in a special coke glass).This always seemed so special to me because I earned this money myself, my parents would not have had the extra money for this type of thing. I also was able to listen to the new songs on the jukebox because there were always a couple of older kids hanging out there putting money in the jukebox. I would then take whatever change I had left and buy penny candy. They always had the best penny candy such as shoe string licorice, red hot dollars, flying saucers with little candies in them to name a few. I would then go home to do my homework and share the candy with my sisters and brother. Ah, the good old days. There are times when I wish my children could know the, innocence of that time.