The "A Tap On The Shoulder" Story

A young Gladys

It was an ordinary day.  Reminiscing with Carol about one of our cats, Gladys, who died years ago at the age of 19.  She was a blue-point Siamese who at times thought she was a human.  She would sit on our dining room hutch, which was fairly close to the dining room table, and as we ate our meals she would tap us on the shoulder from behind to let you know she wanted something to eat.  Loved many of the same foods that we enjoyed.  Never could understand how she stayed a constant 8 pounds with all the starchy food she ate. We certainly didn't!   The reminiscing today was brought about because of a newspaper article telling of the reopening soon of one of our favorite snack companies.  The company, Gibble's, who made potato chips, cheese puffs and pretzels for years and years was one of our favorites as well as one of Gladys' favorites.  She always knew it was time for a snack when she heard the paper bag open and the chips rustling inside it.  Carol and I would grab a handful and find a chair to enjoy a TV show.  In a few minutes Gladys would be in your lap looking for her share.  Had to break them into real small pieces to accommodate the petite cat.  Gibble's closed about a year ago and left many unhappy customers.  

Used for potato chips and cat food

Recently Robert and Amy Hartman of Bowmansville, PA bought the Chambersburg, PA business and have plans to restart it making some of the company's products.  They promised not to change a thing in the production of the products.  "We don't want to change anything.  We want to bring back the same quality product that people want and expect," they said.  Gibble's Homestyle Potato Chips were our favorite.  We have purchased them since getting married in 1967.  In 1976, our country's Bi-Centennial, we purchased a Gibble's Chip tin which we have saved since we purchased it.  Keep our cat food in it at present, since the chip company stopped production about a year ago and we have no chips to store in it.  That's all going to change again when the snacks are back on the shelves at our local grocery store. As for Gladys, we miss her and all the quirky things she used to do that made her near-human.  She still sits on the hutch, but in her own little tin can.  She was one of a kind who can never be replaced.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.