The Riff

There are a number of items I have on my person at all times. Two friendship bracelets, made by my middle school camp kids during the summer; my high school class ring--its third variation after two missizings and a completely incorrect order, and a jade necklace, of either a peacock or a phoenix, can't determine which (though the giver believed it to be a snake) are the accessories that are always equipped. Items that inhabit pockets have a varied order of importance, depending upon my location and my location alone. While at school, the most important is my student ID card, for obvious reasons. While at home my phone takes that title, also for obvious reasons. The runner up is a tube of chapstick.

I don't quite remember when I started using chapstick, though I imagine it was during middle school. I began running Track & Field and Cross Country in middle school, and the constant wind across the lips from breathing through the mouth (I know I'm supposed to breathe through my nose, but I just can't get enough air that way) definitely caused some chapping.

Middle school was also the time my mother took it upon herself to make me more feminine. I'd joined the running sports to avoid her threats of signing me up for the cheer squad. I believe there was one Christmas where my stocking contained nothing but cheap beauty products; lip gloss, eye shadow, brushes, eyeliner and of course, chapstick.

By eighth grade, it had gotten to the point that my lips stopped moisturizing themselves. I required the chapstick. I was addicted. In those first months upon realizing this, there were a number of times I forgot to grab the colorful little tubes. Sometimes I'd get lucky and be with my parents (to this day, my mother has a tube of vanilla chapstick in her purse that the hospital gave her when I was born) or friends. Other times, I would fall into an excruciating pain as my lips dried out and my saliva only made it worse.

I learned quickly after that. These days, the only time that pain is experienced is when a tube gets used up. I've become sensitive even to that, however. The change in weight of the tube and the sharp plastic base at the base of the product are the warning signs. With the change of the weight, the balance of the tube is also thrown off. I know when to start carrying two.

Now, the chapstick itself hasn't changed that much over the years. I refuse the Chapstick brand. Why? They put microscopic bits of fiberglass in their product to cut your lips. That cooling sensation the brand promotes is the result of other ingredients in the product healing the cuts. Blistex feels pasty. Avon is usually alright, but expensive and difficult to come across. Burt's Bees is okay but doesn't give me the level of moisture I need so I find I'm constantly reapplying. Generic brands are hit-or-miss, depending on their formula.

I've always been a Bonnie Bell Lip Smacker girl.

The best perk has to be the variety of flavors offered. If I didn't have the choice, I would be perfectly content with one flavor once I found it (I actually found the "one flavor" of Lip Smackers, but like everything else I like best, the Moon Rock Candy flavor was discontinued). There are only a few types that don't work for me, which allows me to buy in bulk without worry.

Kiwi, Strawberry Kiwi, Fruit Punch, Red Raspberry, Wild Raspberry, Strawberry, Watermelon, Grape, Cherry, Vanilla, Cotton Candy, Lemonade, Pink Lemonade, Squirt, 7UP, Crush, Mountain Dew, Starburst (all the original flavors), Jell-O (Strawberry, Blue Raspberry, Lime, Grape, Strawberry Kiwi, Cherry), Strawberry Gushers, Cinnamon Bun, Peanut Butter Chocolate Cookie, Gingerbread Man, Melon, Strawberry Banana, Tutti Frutti. There's more, but I'm sure the above conveys just how many choices there are. The one I will not touch is Dr. Pepper. Instead of moisturizing, it immediately gives the uncomfortable sensation of the drying out pain.

People don't notice the chapstick, much less when it is changed. The only one that's really been called to attention was the Strawberry Gushers, because of how unusual it was. Sometimes, like with Watermelon, people will notice the smell but they won't outright ask about it.

A single tube lasts about two months. There is no ceremony for switching from one to another. Sometimes I'll ask someone else their opinion of which flavor I should use next. Old tube goes in the garbage, new tube goes in pocket.

Today is Jell-O Strawberry Kiwi. Tomorrow is something completely different.