"I Don't Like Peeps"

Not like “my peeps” plural for persons..   but peeps, like the sugary marshmallow  substance in the shape of a chick or a bunny..  That’s what we’re talking about today.  Peeps. I don’t like peeps but I sure wanted to see them in my Easter basket every year! That’s because they are a part of my heritage. They are a product of my youth.   Sam Born was in the business of making candy in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. His company was appropriately named “Just Born” and in 1954, peeps we’re born becoming America’s Easter candy.  The speculation  that they we’re shaped like bunnies is because Pennsylvania had a large German immigrant population and it is believed that they are credited for bringing their  Easter  tradition of a hopping egg laying rabbit to America.    The chicks, thought to come about from the  pagan symbol of the egg and birth and Spring. So there you have it, a little history of peeps. 700 million peeps are sold each Easter time. But I’m not sure anyone is really eating them.  Oh, I know… there is this huge big thing about loving peeps and the “Pro Peeps”  but who are you kidding? They taste pretty weird. I actually had someone get mad at me for saying peeps don’t taste good.  It was almost like saying “I spit on the American flag!”  the reaction I got!  But I don’t like them and I’m not sure you do either.  Want to know why I think this?  Because every single magazine on the shelf had different things you could do with peeps. (Not eating them!)  I saw a flower vase made of peeps, a lamp base, an Easter bonnet, an art deco wall hanging, flip flops (ok, I made that one up), but I think you get my drift.  People may love how cute the little peeps are but they are finding ways to use them instead of eating them! Know what I used to do with them when I was little?  Wait till they get really hard (about 2 hours into the day!) and then throw them at my brothers.  They threw them back at me (except for the one brother who actually ate his but he always was a little different). And let me tell you something… these babies could be weapons of mass destruction!  Can you imagine if we just build ourselves a big old “peeps” rocket launcher? We would have no enemies because whoever was left standing after the foray would be laughing so hard or calling up Martha Stewart to see if they could get their “peeps” invention into the next edition of “Living” magazine!!  You know how else I know no one is eating them?  Because every day after a holiday, I go to Walmart or Price Chopper or wherever , to get my Easter candy half price. (Remember, I’m cheap).  So today I arm myself with a basket prepared to replenish my stash and lo and behold.. what is left on the shelves?  About 10,000 packages of peeps!  That’s right, peeps. Did you buy peeps this year?  I thought not!  Maybe your “ peeps craft project” only need the small 6 pack. Maybe your kid/grandkids have realized how crappy peeps taste and want some good stuff in their basket.  Or maybe last year, they broke the Waterford candy dish filled with jelly beans after whipping those rock hard chickies in a game of friendly Easter warfare.  Perhaps you did buy some and they are now the only things in the basket hanging on for dear life.  I didn’t buy any half price peeps. I can’t think of anything to do with them except throw them.  But I didn’t get any peanut M&M’s either.  They had them yesterday, on Easter, at Walmart, but the morning after… no peanut M&M’s.  Where’d they go?  Maybe the peeps ate them.