Meals on Wheels?

Buying at home did not originate on the internet. Sorry kids!

One of our daily rituals when I was a kid was to go outside with my mom when the Helms Bakery Truck came down our street. He would come along and somehow my mom and all the other neighbor ladies knew he was coming. Maybe he tooted his horn. Or maybe there was a song playing on the loudspeaker. I'm not sure.

I remember we would go out to his truck. It was basically a van with no opening on the sides (except for the driver). The back double doors would open and there would be drawers that he would pull out that would display any number of wonderful freshly baked goods. Donuts. Bread. Cupcakes. Muffins. Assorted pastries. Pies. Cakes. We would stand there staring at all of the delicious looking stuff with our mouths watering. I'm sure we looked pathetic! :-)

We would go with my mom and "help" her buy whatever it was she was going to get that day. Sometimes she would buy more than the usual bread. Sometimes she would buy a pastry or donuts. Once in awhile she would buy cupcakes or pie. Mostly though she just bought bread.

The Helms Bakery Truck disappeared by the time I was nine or so.

Then of course there was the Ice Cream Man. He came around every day and enticed the children in the neighborhood with his music that resembled that of a merry-go-round at the carnival. It was a rare treat to get to buy something, but when we did it was the highlight of our day! One thing he sold was Good Humor Bars. They were vanilla ice cream on a stick covered with chocolate coating, and they cost a nickel. (I think they still sell them today in the stores, but I'm not sure.) During one period of time, or so the rumor went, there were special surprises inside in the form of a nickel wrapped up in waxed paper. I personally never found one or knew anyone who did, so who knows?

The Milk Man was another regular visitor. Each week he would drop off milk. Five quarts (in glass bottles carried in an aluminum rack) of whole milk and one quart of chocolate milk. As our family grew it became ten quarts of whole milk and two quarts of chocolate milk. My mom would simply put out the money along with our empty bottles, weekly or monthly (I can't remember), and there was never a thought that anyone would steal either the milk or the money.

I remember other vendors as well. The Jewel Tea man came by our house each month and would sell my mom all sorts of things, though for the life of me I can't remember what. Also there was some kind of company that I think was called "Stanley" that sold my mom such things as mops, brooms, dust pans, and such. Believe it or not, our Insurance Man also came each month to collect the premium. How's that for service?

My mom didn't drive, so all of this convenient "right to your door" service was very much needed and appreciated!

Today, though, we have the internet which provides the same service but doesn't afford the buyer the opportunity to "see" before you buy and have the person to person contact. Not as much fun either! :-)