HERSHEY'S, SNICKERS, AND ARNOLD PALMER
BY DAN MILLER
(originally posted October 31, 2005)
Halloween stirs up great visions of sweets in my mind, even though I don't go trick or treating anymore.
But McKensie does.... and she always comes home with a bag full of candy.
The amazing thing is -- unlike many 6-year olds -- McKensie doesn't eat much candy.
She may sample a piece of two, but she actually prefers carrots, grapes, apples, cantaloupe, strawberries, bananas, etc.... even broccoli.
(No, I'm not worried.... she has many other traits that clearly confirm she is my biological child.)
While she's asleep after making her trick or treat rounds, I discreetly inventory her bag(s) of candy, hoping there'll be plenty of Hershey's and Snickers.
And I know exactly why I prefer those two particular candy bars.
It goes back many years.
My next door neighbor (and best childhood pal) Millard Beckum (actually his Mom) always stocked Hershey Bars in the top, left drawer of the sideboard in their dining room.
Mrs. Beckum would keep dozens of Hershey Bars there, both plain and with almonds.
They were always fresh, and always available to us after school or play.
And, to this day, no chocolate has ever tasted better.
It's the kind of thing you don't forget, even though many years -- and many Hershey Bars -- have come and gone.
As for Snickers, my fondness for them really blossomed at the 1964 Masters Golf Tournament.
I was standing with hundreds of people -- part of Arnie's Army -- as Arnold Palmer walked up to the 10th tee at the Augusta National.
As Arnie waited for his turn at the tee, he reached into his golf bag and took out a Snickers.
He carefully unwrapped it.... and with two big bites, devoured the candy bar.
I suppose it was sort of a mid-round energy boost.
At that moment, a strong craving for a Snickers was triggered in my brain, and as soon as Arnold headed down the fairway, I headed for the concession stand.
Even now, whenever I get a hankering for a Snickers, I think about Arnold Palmer.
And whenever I see a picture of Arnold Palmer, I still think about a Snickers.
1964 was a great year.... Arnold won the Masters, and I had only one cavity.
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