The Slice: She’ll take a PB&J, but hold the J

Heather York’s 5-year-old daughter, Lauryn, doesn’t ask for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

She says, “Can I have a peanut butter and jelly with no jelly, please?”

When asked if just peanut butter would be OK, Lauryn answers “No, I want a peanut butter and jelly with no jelly, please.”

Remembering the 1962 Seattle World’s Fair: “My grandmother, who was then 60, was the only one in the family willing to ride the Wild Mouse with me,” wrote Cheri Catt. “As the ride took a very sharp corner, the cute pillbox hat she was wearing flew off – never to be seen again.”

For Pat Holland, it was the summer before her senior year at North Central High School. She and a friend went over on the train and stayed seven days. “One of the most fantastic adventures of my life.”

Suzanne Harris recalls a future-focused exhibit that suggested there would one day be portable telephones. “But my favorite memory is of the Danish sausages that were sold from carts all around the fairgrounds.”

Jeff Brown, a student at Eastern Washington State College at the time, remembers talking to a black family from New Jersey while waiting in line outside the Space Needle. During that eye-opening exchange, Brown learned that African-Americans contemplating a cross-country trip had to plan ahead for virtually every restaurant, restroom and motel stop.

If there had never been an Air Force base here: “I wouldn’t have a husband,” wrote Dee Hargitt.

And Gerald Ray said, “Spokane would be much smaller and the West Plains would be livable.”

Feedback: Jan Hankel had a thought about how The Slice could improve re: the New Year’s Day column. “How about if you do NOT use the term ‘Let’s move on’ during the entire year of 2012 (except for your slip on Jan. 1)?

“You see, people who are reading The Slice are already ‘moving on’ when they continue on to your next item. It’s such a trite expression and adds nothing to your articles.”

Today’s Slice question: Any special plans for Friday the 13th?