It was 1992 or 1993. We were in the family’s Astro van, driving out west. All five of us in one car, and two of us were teenagers. So yeah, you can imagine the highs and lows of that trip. Some notable things:
= Dad got a speeding ticket. That was when I learned that people are not in good moods after getting speeding tickets. Mom actually had to pull me aside and inform me of this fact, when I was getting my feelings all hurt over nothing.
= Jenny and I were singing “Baby Got Back” and we got to the part where it says “me me so horny“.
Kevin: “What does horny mean?”
Me and Jenny (in snooty tones): “We are not telling you.”
Kevin: “If you don’t tell me, I’m asking Dad.”
Me and Jenny (calling Kevin’s obvious bluff): “We’re not telling you.”
Kevin (calling our bluff of his bluff): “Daaaad, what does horny mean?”
Silence. More silence. Dad clears his throat, then more silence. Finally, Dad: “Uhm … I don’t know.”
= And then, days into the trip, the incident.
Kevin: “I think I’m gonna throw up. Blech.” (pukes all over the place.)
Me, fearing the worst had happened and that he’d puked all over my stuff: “My Caboooooodle!!!”
Of course, he had not puked on my Caboodle, nor anywhere near it. I have no idea why that was the first thing I was worried about when my poor baby brother was sick. Ok, I do know why: I was 13 years old.
But to this day, all Jenny or Kevin have to say is “My Caboooooodle!!!” and it elicits tons of laughter from all of us.
I write this because I’d forgotten all about Caboodles until I watched “Hot Tub Time Machine” with Anil last week and they mentioned Caboodles. “Caboodles!” I exclaimed. “Oh my gosh, I loved my Caboodle!”
“What’s a Caboodle?” he asked.
Of course, I totally freaked out. I did a google search and found out THEY STILL SELL THEM. I am so getting one.