Dandelion

Much hype the past few weeks over the impending loss of our little Crayola friend, Dandelion. Apparently, folks are quite attached to their boxes of crayons and in light of the current coloring craze, I suppose the umbilical cord of loyalty is increasingly difficult to sever. I am not a part of the coloring craze due to my ineptness with all things artsy, but I do love crayons. In fact, my first official memory of true covetousness was my lust for a flip-top box of 64 crayons with a built-in sharpener. (I also coveted my cousin's orange sweater in fourth grade. The Lord spared me from such nonsense considering my pallid skin tone.)

Purchasing back-to-school supplies was always a heady childhood experience. With seven children in school, budget was the foremost priority in our family, of course. One standard issue tablet of paper, a couple of pencils (real wood back then), perhaps an ink pen or two if you were in the upper grades and a crumbly gummy eraser were considered the basics. The piece de resistance, however, was the box of crayons. Mom held the purse so we were at her mercy. I am sure some begging and whining ensued, but the shekels in her wallet dictated whether we got an 8-count or a 16-count. Occasionally, a 48-count would slip into the cart (if you were in upper elementary) but, I do not remember acquiring the holy grail, the 64-count.

Despite my perceived lack of fortune, the brand new box of crayons, no matter the count, presented itself with its distinctive crayon fragrance as I opened the lid. All the colors stood at attention awaiting my creative commands. The array of color names was no less intriguing. Raw umber was perfect for shading the bark of a tree trunk. Maize added a golden pop to a flower or field of grain. Periwinkle was a dusty blue, perfect for an evening sky. Salmon was as close to the fish as a land-locked kid from the midwest was ever going to get and forest green took care of all your tree coloring needs. Of course, there were always the standards, red, blue, yellow, green and plum.

Crayola has stood the test of time with its hundred years of production and counting. They weathered the technology storm of LiteBrite screens, Etch-a-Sketches and coloring apps. Despite the dazzling allure of such options, the humble box of crayons beckons children and adults alike. Crayola wisely cycles crayon names in and out and creates a buzz of curiosity and nostalgia.

Thus, the exit of Dandelion. If you are so inclined, there is a farewell tour across America, bidding "Dan D" adieu. And sometime this summer, the adoption of a new color is in the wings, complete with a help-name-the-color contest. The only clue given about the new color is that it will be in the blue family.

So, get your thinking caps on. You could be a part of history and have a new crayon bear your favorite name for blue. If I happen to win the contest, I hope the crayon will only be found in the 64-count box. Surely, my contest winnings will include a new 64-count box of crayons.

Let the sharpening begin.