Often I wonder about the genesis of specific parts of my childhood. Perhaps many of them were based on my parents living and raising their family on one salary, choosing for my mom to always be at home and available for my brother and me. My daddy was an executive with a major life insurance company, but insurance companies and banks were not generous employers back then.
For sure, though, our clothes and shoes were always the best available; the best brands and from the best stores.
Luxuries, on the other hand, were not plentiful. A good deal of that could be blamed on the rationing imposed by World War II.
My daddy had a business associate in Los Angeles named Howard Reeves. Since he and Mrs. Reeves never had children, the way they budgeted their income didn't have to be as conservative as that of my mom and dad.
After all, Mr. and Mrs. Reeves had no daily expense of feeding, clothing and raising children, and they didn't have to prepare for their future educations. Mine dad and mom did.
Mr. and Mrs. Reeves lived in a beautiful home in the Hollywood Hills, and about one-half of that home was cantilevered out over a hill. The view, especially in the evenings, was spectacular. I remember the first time I saw it, which was in the early 1950s, Daddy said it was worth over a million dollars, and that Mr. Reeves had paid for it with profits from his regular investments in a stock called Pure Oil.
At Christmas time each year, Mr. and Mrs. Reeves would send my brother and me a five pound box of See's Candy. There really was a Mrs. Sees and her family, and that candy was made and sold fresh in Los Angeles and San Francisco, and only in See's Candy Shops.
From the 1940s through today, my taste and opinion have never changed. See's candy is the best there is, and the best of the best are their Krispys. There were about twenty in every mixed box.
The last time I saw Mr. and Mrs. Reeves was in the early 1960s when I played a few-weeks' gig as the pianist in the restaurant of the Beverly Wilshire Hotel. They honored me by coming there to eat with me and to hear me play.
Mr. and Mrs. Reeves and my mom and dad are no longer with us. The memories of them are all that remain with me.
This year, though, Patty found a whole box of just See's Krispys and bought them for me as one of my Christmas presents. When I opened the box, I was so surprised that I couldn't resist letting her have the first one. "You've got to experience this for yourself," I told her. Now she knows.
I'm hopeful that beginning with Christmas 2009, Patty has resumed that tradition of having a box of See's Candies for me under our Christmas tree each year. To me it's tangible evidence that growing up in that time and as my mom and dad's son was so special, and that Patty is the perfect one to have honored the Cherrys by becoming my wife.
If you haven't tried Mrs. See's candies, you need to.
In Dallas, See's Candies are now available in their company-owned candy shop. Second floor of NorthPark near Neiman-Marcus.
BILL CHERRY, REALTORS
DALLAS - HIGHLAND PARK
Our 45th Christmas Selling Homes
214 503-8563
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