your umbrella history

[charlie,nj]

OK we did DISer car, school, job, cat, toy, weight, music, love, divorce, cholesterol, prom, hairdo, kid, body hair, concert, insect, medical, dog, house, fingernail, cooking, travel, and SO history..how about an umbrella history.

I have had 3 umbrellas in my lifetime.

1- “the black beauty” – a nice black umbrella with a real wooden handle. I think I got it as a “welcome to the world” gift from my Uncle Artie when I was born. I still have this beauty stored away at my mother’s house. I show it off to my sons now and then. (only if they are extra good) I am proud to say it still has it’s original cover.

2- “the recognition” – a nice extra wide blue and white umbrella with my company logo on it, along with a cheap plastic handle. (don’t make them like they use to) I received this umbrella as a reward for a job well done. Save a company millions of dollars and you get an umbrella with a plastic handle. (The American Dream?) This umbrella like many large corporations fell apart a few years ago. (they don’t make large corporations like they use to either)

3- “the corndog” –a nice extra wide red and white umbrella with a food service logo on it. It has a big “M” decorated with a corn dog on a stick along with a squirt of mustard. (in just the right place) The words McKinney’s Food Service is across it all. (very classy) I got it from a guy selling them on the street for 2 bucks a piece. I still proudly use this umbrella today. Every time I open it, it reminds me of the great corn war threads here on the DIS. (those were the days….my (corn)friend)


In college I did have a (very) brief fling with a couple of Totes collapsibles. I don’t like to talk about them. It just didn’t work out, every time it rained my shoulders would get wet.

When I was a kid we respected and took care of our umbrellas along with our monogrammed handkerchiefs (“C,nj”) and our rubber’s. I can still hear my mother yelling..”Charles don’t forget your rubber’s”. (I still don’t think she knows….)

***- note to Pete – how about lime green DIS..umbrellas, handkerchiefs, and rubbers. The weather in WDW seems to be wet lately. I bet they would be a big seller.

Kids today have no respect for their umbrellas. My two sons’ have had a combined total of around 15 or 20 in every shape and size, and my oldest son is just ten. (no respect) I must say I am glad there wasn’t a yellow Pikachu shaped umbrella when I was little. When I was little I am pretty sure umbrellas only came in one color (black) and one size (big). Hence the birthday gift from my Uncle Artie.

 

[Ricola]

I think I've got one somewhere. Never had much use for it, though. Certainly never gave it a name.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Totes, extra large, charlie, no wet shoulders for us big guys.

 

[catsrule]

Do not like umbrellas, I prefer a Dis raincoat with a hood on it.

 

[CajunDixie]

My first umbrella (its still around here somewhere) was clear and had circus clowns and elephants on it. Now I mainly use my 3 different hooded jackets....but I still have a little red compact umbrella that stays in my van.

 

[MerryPoppins]

I remember a clear, bell shaped one when I used to walk to elementary school. I thought it was really cool. Don't know what ever happened to it.

I now have a peach colored one in the house, and a totes in each car for emergencies. Now the funny part, my DD uses them, but I rarely do. Too much trouble. I'd rather get a little damp unless it's pouring.

 

[nativetxn]

We seem to collect umbrellas...most of them actually belong to us, although there is a blue one that someone loaned me two years ago, still sitting in our foyer...my husband keeps meaning to take it to the office and return it to it's rightful owner and he keeps forgetting.

 

[Boots]

I guess I have had about a dozen. My favorite one wa an orange and white golf umbrella. It was huge! When I worked at a bank, the vice president "borrowed" it and when it came back the shaft was bent. I told him I didn't think it was bent when he took it but he said there wasn't anyway I could tell. But it never worked again. The trendest one I had was a bubble umbrella. It was clear and drooped down to my shoulders. Everyone back in the early 70's had one like this! One nice thing I did stay dry!

 

[Saffron]

Heehee boots! Whenever I hear the word umbrella, I think of my very first; a bubble. Mine was clear with red trim around the edges. I loved that thing. We would stand at the bus stop and yell at each other through our umbrellas. They would even get steamed up. I don't know if they ever made adult sizes? I wonder if if would buy one if they did?? Maybe not.

 

[SonjaB]

I can't say I've ever committed to an umbrella, I pretty much use them and toss them aside when I'm done with them. Maybe if I met the right umbrella.....one that didn't shudder at every dark cloud or snap at every high wind......

Whatever happened to the strong, dependable, steadfast umbrellas? The ones that sheltered you, protected you, took care of you? The umbrellas that could weather any storm?

Sigh, I guess what they say is true, all the good umbrellas are gone......

 

[Micca]

I've got a cool yellow poncho with a big Mickey Mouse on it. I never named it, but how does Pancho sound?