Hey Lunchbox!

Did your lunchbox define you? Did you carry a metal one? Or, a vinyl one? Were you more of a TV show, cartoon, Football team or character? I look back at my annual lunch box purchases with fond memories. My mom would patiently take me to each discount store (Woolworth's, K-mart, the food store) to find JUST the right lunchbox. I remember every lunchbox I carried. Mom was a saint and dealt with my (obsessive) need for a different lunchbox every year. One year, I couldn't decide and was the proud owner of TWO! That was a good year...

1st grade- Snoopy

2nd grade- Barbie (in Vinyl) and Super friends
3rd grade- Betsy Clark

4th grade- Holly Hobbie
5th grade- Charlie's Angels

6th grade- brown paper sack

I remember how we would judge kids on their lunchbox. If they had a cool character like Six Million Dollar Man or Evel Knievel...that was cool. But, if a kid had some TV show like, say The Walton's...this really defined the kid. Set him up for a year of ridicule at the lunch table. That Walton's carrying kid also had a box of raisins and an olive sandwich. Poor kid.

I always secretly wanted a Little House on the Prairie lunchbox. I liked Nellie Olsen and all.

Cool boys had their favorite NFL team, The Hulk or Star Wars. Cool girls had Holly Hobbie and TV shows.

But, the thermos always did a lot of damage. It would roll around and flatten the fluffy, Wonder bread p.b.& j. Sometimes, it would "smash" a Ho-Ho or a Hostess cupcake. I hated that. No matter how my mom would pack it, something it would always get steamrolled in the metal box.

What lunchbox did you have a kid? Please comment...!!