Reunion

This is my Mr. Mixit. Well, he was our Mr. Mixit, shared by the three of us at Mar Mar and Granddaddy’s house.

But he lives with me now, full-time. No weekends or holidays for Bucky and Monty. You fill him with milk, ice cream, and chocolate syrup, and then push-push-push down on his hat, and he mixes you a milkshake! (That hole in the corner of his mouth is for a straw.)

Mr. Mixit hangs out on our kitchen counter with the Jim Beam Bartender, who is shaking up something award-winning for the 1973 International Cocktail Championship. Bartender guy is also from Mar Mar and Granddaddy’s house, but he wasn’t shared by Bucky, Monty, and me. And I wasn’t even going to bring him home with me, but my friend Melissa advised me to keep at least one of my Granddaddy’s Beam bottles. I thank you, Melissa. And Mr. Mixit thanks you.

Well, one day, a long time ago, my friend + colleage = frolleague Debbie and I went to the Sandwich, Illinois, antiques fair. Neither of us could afford much, but we sure enjoyed poking around and talking about stuff we love. Turns out, Debbie was mourning the loss of her beloved Mr. Mixit, who disappeared from her grandparents’ house when their estate was sorted out. Gosh, I came close to giving her mine. But instead, I resolved to find another one for her.

So for 20-odd years, I’ve kept an eye out for another Mr. Mixit, at every antique mall, junk market, and garage sale that I’ve been to. And I have been to a lot.

O happy day! Debbie’s sweetie just found a Mr. Mixit! And gave it to her for her birthday! Her Mr. Mixit hangs out in her office. So I decided that last Friday was Bring Your Mr. Mixit to Work Day.

They were so surprised to meet face to face! Neither knew he was a twin!