The Candy Jar: A Sweet Tradition Finds a New Home

Sometimes the smallest things bring back the biggest memories. This morning, I pulled an old Holiday World candy dish out of storage, filled it with an assortment of Halloween candy, and placed it on the conference table at the JMart Travels office. To many this is probably just a candy dish, but to me, it represents something much bigger: decades of memories, friendships, and relationships built throughout my professional life.

I'm delighted to have it back in service.

A Tradition That Started in the Classroom

Long before JMart Travels existed, I kept a jar of candy in my classroom during my years as a teacher at St. Bernard School. Students would stop by for a piece of candy. Former students would wander in to say hello. Fellow teachers would pop in throughout the day.

Sometimes those visits lasted only a few seconds. Other times, a quick stop for candy turned into a much longer conversation.

Looking back, I suspect the candy was often just an excuse to stop by. And that was perfectly fine with me.

As my career evolved, my role at Holiday World & Splashin' Safari eventually came with an office of my own and the tradition came along. The candy jar found a home on my office desk, and once again, colleagues and employees developed a habit of stopping by for a little something sweet.

Some came regularly. Others stopped by whenever they happened to be passing through. And occasionally, those simple visits became some of the most memorable moments of my day.

One Piece of Laffy Taffy and a Lifetime of Memories

One of my favorite memories involves my former colleague, Joe Hevron. Joe was part of the remarkable story of Holiday World from its earliest days, beginning when the park opened as Santa Claus Land in 1946. He had spent much of his life helping build and shape a business that became such an important part of our community.

During the years we worked together, Joe developed a little routine. Every day, he would stop by my office for one piece of Laffy Taffy.

Just one.

He'd unwrap it, enjoy the candy, and read the silly joke printed on the wrapper. I've never understood the fascination with Laffy Taffy. The candy itself is mediocre at best, and the jokes are arguably worse!

But Joe loved it. And I loved those visits. At the time, they were simply a pleasant part of the workday. A few minutes of conversation, a piece of candy, and usually a terrible joke.

Looking back, I realize just how special those moments were. For a brief time each day, I had the opportunity to visit with someone who had been part of Holiday World's story since he was a young boy in 1946. Someone whose experiences, memories, and contributions helped shape a company that generations of families have come to love.

And those simple conversations certainly shaped me in ways far beyond anything intended by the makers of Laffy Taffy. But I'm here for it.

Joe has long since passed away, but I remember those visits fondly. So this morning, when I spotted the Laffy Taffy among the Halloween candy, I immediately thought of him.

It's remarkable how something as ordinary as a piece of candy can bring back such meaningful memories.

Different Careers. Different People. The Same Tradition.

Over the course of my career, I've had the privilege of working in education, tourism and hospitality, foodservice, and now travel planning. Each chapter has brought different responsibilities, challenges, accomplishments, and opportunities.

When I think about the experiences that have meant the most to me, they're rarely the meetings, sales reports, or professional achievements. They're the people.

The former student who stopped by years after leaving my classroom.

The coworker who wandered into my office just to visit.

The customer who eventually became a friend.

And the colleague who stopped by every day for a piece of Laffy Taffy and a joke that probably wasn't worth repeating.

Those are the moments that stay with us. And I've come to appreciate that some of the most meaningful relationships in life are built through the smallest, most ordinary interactions.

A New Chapter at JMart Travels

On October 2, I officially closed the chapter on my twelve-year career with US Foods to devote my full attention to JMart Travels. It's a transition I've been looking forward to for quite some time.

Since founding JMart Travels in 2022, I've had the opportunity to help hundreds of travelers explore new destinations, celebrate special occasions, and create memories with the people they love. And one of the things I've enjoyed most about this business is getting to know the people who trust us with their travel plans.

More and more travelers are visiting our office for appointments, consultations, and conversations about their upcoming adventures. Some are longtime friends. Some are connections I made in my days at Holiday World or at St Bernard School. Others are people I'm meeting for the very first time.

We talk about cruise ships, hotels, flights, excursions, and destinations. But we also talk about families, grandchildren, anniversaries, retirement, and the experiences people hope to share with those closest to them.

Those conversations are often my favorite part of the job. Because while JMart Travels is certainly in the business of planning vacations, I've always believed that travel is about much more than reservations and itineraries.

It's about experiences.

It's about memories.

And, perhaps most importantly, it's about people.

The Candy Jar Is Back!

This morning, I decided it was time to revive an old tradition. The candy jar of my teaching and Holiday World days has become a candy dish, and it's found a new home at JMart Travels. The container may be different, but the sentiment remains exactly the same.

It's filled with an assortment of treats, including plenty of Laffy Taffy. I still don't understand why everyone seems to gravitate toward that particular candy. And I'm reasonably certain the jokes haven't improved over the years. But that's perfectly fine. Because I hope that little dish gives someone an excuse to linger a few extra minutes after an appointment.

Or stop by just to say hello.

Or share a story.

Or enjoy a conversation that has absolutely nothing to do with booking a vacation.

Maybe someday, years from now, I'll look back on the conversations that began around this candy dish with the same fondness I have for those visits with Joe. And perhaps someone else will remember stopping by the JMart Travels office for a piece of candy and a friendly visit.

After all, the sweetest part of life has never been the candy. It's the people we share it with.

So if you happen to stop by the JMart Travels office, help yourself to a piece. And if you choose the Laffy Taffy, be sure to read the joke.

I know someone who would appreciate that.