When I was about five I was allowed to walk with my friend, the same age, to the 7-Eleven that was practically across the street from our apartments.  We usually got a quarter each to go on Saturdays and they used to have prizes hidden under the bottom of the cup.  The world-wide chain store actually began in Dallas in 1927.  I had no idea they started as an ice house and that their first name had been “Tote’m” because customers would “tote” away their purchases.  Apparently many stores even had genuine Alaskan totem poles in front.  I always knew they got their name from their operating hours which were seven days a week, but that was not until 1946.  Ironically in 1963 they began staying open around the clock.  My beloved childhood cherry Slurpee was originally called an “Icee” when it was introduced in 1965.  Today marks the official birthday of 7-Eleven, the world’s largest convenience store chain.  Each year, on 7/11 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. you can walk into your local store and score a free Slurpee to commemorate it.  I remember this was the first sugary drink I ever let my daughter have.  Today we both chose a mixture of “birthday cake” and cherry to try and beat the Texas heat.  I’m glad one thing from my childhood hasn’t changed.  American singer Indina Menzel (ironically of “Frozen” fame) said:

“You get to relive your childhood when you have a baby and you see these toys and these books you read when you were little – the innocence that you are able to maintain because you have to find that again in order to connect with your child keeps you in a special state of mind.”

As my little one and I felt the hot air rising off the pavement I was so glad I got to share this with her.  We sat together in agreeable silence punctuated only by the occasional sounds of slurps.  Dirty bare feet and sweaty red faces are still a part of mid-summer in Dallas.  “Oh thank heaven” for 7-Eleven making more happy childhood memories … with cherry flavor on the top.