Happy 7-Eleven Day 2009!

Today is 7-Eleven Day -- July 11th! Stores were giving away free 7.11 ounce Slurpees today in celebration.

Slurpees have been one of my great obsessions since childhood. The perfect mix of ice, syrup, colors, cool straws and cups. Of course back in the old days we were treated to all sorts of collectible plastic cups featuring super heroes, baseball players and cartoon characters. Fortunately I've never outgrown my love for Slurpees. I grab one whenever I can, and rather frequently in this crazy summer heat!

Here's a vintage matchbook cover from 7-Eleven in the 1960s. They used this bespectacled fellow in some of their ads back then. I'd like to know if he had a name. Also we see the older style store logo here. I'm more familiar with the logo atop this blog post from the 1970s to today.

And while we're at it, let's enjoy some salty snacks with our Big Gulp or Slurpee. Nothing better than Frito-Lay products to tackle that job! Here's a cross-promotional pog from the early 1990s in Hawaii featuring Chester Cheetah. "It isn't easy being cheesy," though it's much easier with an ice cold Slurpee on hand.

Happy 7-Eleven Day 2008

Today is July 11th, or 7/11, which means a day to celebrate my favorite convenience store 7-Eleven!

Every 7-Eleven Day you should make your way to a nearby store for a delicious Slurpee, Big Gulp or other tasty snack. I'll be heading out for a Slurpee later today. Yum!

An oasis in the hot summer sun, I have fond memories as a kid of many trips to get Slurpees and candy there. It often required pestering my parents to drive me, or permission to ride my bike there with friends. It's really something I've never outgrown to this day.

Since the '70s, 7-Elevens have had great periodic promotions with collectible plastic cups featuring cartoon characters, sports stars and super heroes. I had so many of those cups, most of which faded, cracked and found their way into the trash can over the years.

In the '80s and '90s I remember when the Slurpee cups would have a secret compartment underneath where you would get a cool prize like a flicker coin of a baseball or football player. I still have many of those to commemorate the Slurpees of yesteryear.

To help with the celebration, here are a couple of pogs from the early 1990s.

I've started a new group on Flickr called 7-Eleven : Oh Thank Heaven! Feel free to join in the fun and share your 7-Eleven memories. If you're not on Flickr, you can get a free basic account right away and start uploading photos and joining groups.

Have a happy 7-Eleven Day! Oh thank Heaven for 7-Eleven!