The new apartment is so much bigger than my previous place. That means that several items which I’ve had in storage are actually being used — or prominently on display.
Sunday afternoon I was cleaning up and organizing my bedroom, one of the last rooms in the house to be tended to. (I never got my bedroom painted in my old apartment, despite living there for 18 months). I took my box of Flutie Flakes and put them on top of my dresser, surrounded by a couple of stuffed hedgehogs and a stuffed bear.
And my girlfriend immediately started picking on me!
You’re thinking she was picking on my for owning stuffed animals, right? That’s where I thought she was going to go when she started laughing. I mean, what self-respecting adult male has a collection of stuffed animals that he keeps on display?
But, no, she had seen the hedgehogs and the polar bear before. It was the Flutie Flakes that apparently drew her attention.
The box is in pristine condition — still unopened. They go for about $10 on eBay. Of course, I didn’t know that until about 30 seconds ago because I’ve never considered selling it.
For one, it provides “10 essential vitamins and minerals.” For another thing, it’s kind of signed. In the same manner that all first-edition Flutie Flakes were signed. And lastly (this may be key), my dad gave it to me.
“I’ll bet 10 percent of men in Western New York still have a box of Flutie Flakes,” I told her.
She seemed to doubt this supposition on my part and contends that any self-respecting male that does have a box of Flutie Flakes has them hidden in a closet somewhere so his wife or girlfriend won’t throw it out.
I know I’ve said previously that I’m not a huge sports fan, but c’mon. Doug Flutie? How could you not like the guy. For a while, he was the hero of 50 percent of guys in the Buffalo area. The other 50 percent, for some reason, hated him.
Maybe she’s right. Maybe the “shrine” (her words not mine) to the Flutie Flakes is a bit much.
Eventually, they’ll end up on a shelf along with other items she’ll think should embarrass me but don’t, like my tin Labatt Blue sign which she suggested should go in the “man cave” (attic).
But for now, my box of Flutie Flakes will be prominently displayed in my bedroom — where no one other than her or I will see them.
But I have to ask you guys, where do you keep yours?