Cherry Coke and Compoders

I've been best friends with Dave since early 1989, when we both moved to Oregon City within four months of each other. Since we were new to the high school, it was natural for us to hang out together. Our moving to new locations became a running theme for us, since in the 16+ years hence, we've each moved over 10 times to different homes in the Portland area.

On one of Dave's earliest moves, we were treated with Cherry Coke and a brand of cheese puffs called Compadres. Being high school kids with no adherence to proper nutrition, these were our favorite junk food. For fun, we changed the pronunciation to "compoders", joking about their two ingredients of "styrofoam and artificial cheese parts." Those two junk foods became the official symbol for one of us moving, even if neither of us eats that crap anymore. All we have to do now is e-mail the following image, and the news has been delivered: It's moving time.

This time around, it's not me, but Dave who's found a new space. Today, I get to help him transport his and his four boys' belongings there.