Pass the Crack

I am very much a routine person.

(I'm not exaggerating right mom?)

I like to think I've gotten a bit better through the years, 

but from ages four to fourteen things were simple for me:

 Tapered jeans and forest green GAP Sport sweatshirt every day

 Archie Comics every day

Floppy bun every day (girls, you know the one)

and the most influential and infamous habit of all....

I ate the same cereal...every day. 

Kelloggs, you sneaky sneaky people.

Creating a breakfast food, so delectable

 I had no other choice but to eat it for 14 consecutive years

I was four when introduced to the drug.

I blame my mom. She fed my addiction.

Before long, I would wake up craving Cracklin'

If we ran out....

Wasn't pretty....

I just wouldn't eat breakfast.

At age 6, Kelloggs decided to change things up and include cinnamon in the recipe.

Any normal child would have probably welcomed the toothsome addition.

Not me.

I grabbed my paper and pen and immediately wrote Kelloggs a letter,

noting the frustrations at the lack of communication or democracy

between them and me, a loyal consumer.

I received a thank you note back...

along with a cool Cracklin' Oat Bran tupperware.

(still have it)

My frustrations only lasted a few weeks,

until i realized what most people knew right away...

The cinnamon was a perfect addition.

So the sickness continued.

Eventually, Kelloggs ran several promotional campaigns 

100 miles a box top

collect 5 box tops for 1 free dvd

Needless to say...i racked up those rewards real fast.

I soon had enough miles for a free flight on American Airlines

And I also got a few DVDs for "free"

Unfortunately for my parents, each box costs $5.24

So technically, the free DVD was a terrible deal

In high school, I was asked to list my top 5goals in life.

Easy.

1. To be on the front of the Cracklin' Oat Bran box*

Still hasn't happened.

But the goal remains 

It wasn't until college I soon faced a terrifying reality:

I couldn't afford to continue this expensive habit.

I wouldn't talk about it out loud for fear of this setting in.

My mom would have mercy on me and occasionally send me packages

with the precious blue box stuffed inside.

But eventually, the economy and lack of job prevailed....

And on Monday, January 9th 2006

 I ate my last bowl of Cracklin' Oat Bran.

Withdrawawls hit hard.

I read every article that painted the cereal in a bad light

searching for some consolation.

Those articles are still being written.

 This one just a few months ago.

Yeah yeah yeah, Crack isn't good for you. I know.

Nothing that tastes so good CAN be good for you.

So I broke free from the addiction. And saved myself from this reality.

Thank you to all who helped me pull through to the end.

And Kelloggs?

Well done.

You win.

*Please note my other 4 goals were along the same lines.

To be a Riverdancer and get a black eye were also on the list.