Living In a Cracker Jack World



Posted: Saturday, February 27, 2010

by Chris Cole
George Cole

Whatever happened to the decent prizes located at the bottom of our Cracker Jacks boxes? I believe this question, if answered properly, could answer a life-long conundrum; a) what are we really searching for, and (b) are we noticing the changes taking place all around us?

I recently devoured two boxes of the caramel-encrusted peanut treat to find the only prize bestowed was a case of acid indigestion, an extra two pounds, and a paper "pencil topper," while swimming in a vat of mental uncertainty.

I thought it was only yesterday that Cracker Jacks prizes were baseball cards and plastic animals, and the elusive faux diamond ring. I wonder when Frito Lay decided to pull a fast one on the public by replacing all the cool plastic toys with paper ones. Did they really expect no one to complain? DID ANYONE COMPLAIN, or am I the first?

When did Americans become so complacent and accepting? Are we just a bunch of cattle just going off to slaughter? Are we just going to sit back and let the Big Brother cereal companies make cereal without a toy? Oh wait! It's already been done! Just look at those big plastic bags of generic cereals and of course, the healthy ones, like Post Raisin Bran. But who wants to eat healthy? You are reading an article about Cracker Jacks,or is it truly an article just about a box of delicious popcorn missing its most valuable ingredient? Of course its not!

My point is this; the world is in too big a hurry to notice of the small changes taking place all around them. People are too busy. Too busy to stop and smell the roses, and notice the pieces of their world being deleted bit by bit, kernel by kernel, and peanut by peanut.

I was at Subway just the other day and picked up a bag of chips to complete my combo meal. My bag of potato crisps contained only twenty-three pieces of cholesterol packed chippies. The only prize I received in the bag was a bunch of stale air. With the bag costing just over a dollar, I assumed I was paying at least seventy-five cents for packaging alone. In order to finish my meal, I had to fork over another dollar and change for another bag of chips. As I counted my second bag of broken potato chip pieces, my face broke into a guilt-laden smile. I felt like I hit the lotto, because I was able to count thirty-four chips. Lucky me!

While purchasing Cracker Jacks (the handy three-pack version) the other day, I decided to be the master of my own destiny and to take the bull by the horns, as one might say. I was sick and tired of feeling ripped off with paper pencil toppers and little paper joke books (i.e., "Why didn't the skeleton cross the road? He didn't have enough guts."), I purchased bags of plastic army men, plastic zoo animals, and a bag of plastic jewelry. I will not bother you with the details of my repackaging process.

This leads me to the last morsel of instruction in this souflet of life: Do not become complacent and accepting. This takes discipline and a certain amount of retraining of ones mind. Be sure to ask questions, observe, do things differently, and mix things up! If you comb your hair first thing in the morning, change! Brush your teeth first, then comb your hair! Drive a different route home from work each day and observe the ridges of God's fingerprint all around. Breathe in the sweetness of Our Lords creation while perusing Wal- Mart's candy aisle.

Discover God's world off of the beaten path, and then you will escape the confines of your own Cracker Jack Box.

George "Chris" Cole experienced life as a law enforcement officer with a tour of duty lasting over ten years in law enforcement. He is the survivor of two marriages, and continues to meet new people that provide inspiration for many of his articles and short stories. Many of his articles have appeared in national and local publications.

In 2008, Chris abandoned West Texas and its' "Wal-Mart Trees" (Mesquite bushes that grow plastic bags) to move to the green pastures and real trees of Fredericksburg, Texas. Chris continues to work and hone his writing skills while breathing the fresh air of the hill country.

Mr. Cole can be contacted at kriskohl333@gmail.com.

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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Linda DeWitt
 2 years 69 days ago.
67 fans. Follow Linda DeWitt on twitter!
We need to take a day off now and then to play, take time to slow down and maybe learn to eat a little healthier. Cute article. Thanks for sharing.
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