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Reprinted from The Sun, Yuma, Arizona
Teri Womack was interviewed by Lindsay Cessna of The Sun.
For YPG employee, the only letter is 'M' - and 'M'
Visitors to the Yuma Proving ground might not expect to see legions of M&M's with arms, legs, and even the ability to sing. But pass by Teri Womack's office and you'll see her collection of M&M memorabilia that illustrates not only the occupant's weakness for chocolate but her inner child. On this day eight years ago, Teri Womack's collection was unexpectantly started. "My husband bought me my first one in 1992," Womack said. "It was a red candy dispenser. In the past he would say, 'What can I get you for Christmas?' and I said, 'Surprise me.' And I was surprised." Womack said her red candy dispenser grew into a mound of M&M merchandise, such as miniature and stuffed M&M characters, a telephone and clock. "I spend 10 hours a day here and I don't have any windows," Womack said. "I might as well have fun. Success isn't how much money (I make), it's coming in here and having fun every day." Womack is a protocol officer for YPG, for which she sets up housing and meals for visitors to the military base. "The reason I have these things is because it is so much fun," Womack said. "The serious collectors keep them in boxes. I can't imagine having a candy machine and not putting candy in it." Womack said her candy dispensers always have candy in them, so people can grab a snack as they walk past her office. But she never buys any of the candy herself. "People from YPG come in and put a bag of M&M's on my desk," she said. While Womack always keeps her eyes open for M&M products, she said the majority of her decorations have been gifts from her co-workers and family. "They see stuff and bring it in for me," she said. Womack has received merchandise from England, Italy, Australia and Scotland. She even got a box of M&M's from the White House, which is signed by Bill Clinton. Womack guessed that the oldest piece in her collection is a glass candy jar from the 1984 Olympics that her grandparents gave her. "I know where I got every single one." she said. Womack said her husband never could have guessed what he started on Christmas eight years ago. Instead of just M&M merchandise for Christmas or her birthday, Womack also gets flowers on every occasion mainly because of the collectible M&M holders that FTD comes out with. "Now I found a way to get FTD flowers," she said. "It could be worse, it could be jewelry." Womack said she knows some of her M&M merchandise would be hard to find these days, but she doesn't keep track of her collection's value. "I don't do it for the money, it's just something I thought would be fun to collect," she said. "Every time see one I don't have or someone brings me one, I get really excited. It gives me a lift." Womack's favorite collectible is he first one that started it all. "It was a really thoughtful gift," she said. "Here's something I didn't need that (my husband) picked out." This year Womack said she hopes one of the Christmas presents under her tree will be the new M&M phone she saw at Staples. "I don't have everythi8ng," she said. "Just when I think I've got it all, there is something new they come out with." Womack said the only thing that isn't M&M related in her office is a 'Where's Waldo?' figurine, which she put among her collection to see if anyone would notice him. "That's my little joke on myself," she said. As long as Womack can see the paint on her walls, there will be more room for her M&M collection. "There is way lots more room in here," she said. "Every time I get more I just rearrange a little and make some more space. And Womack doesn't expect to get sick of it either. "I think because every one I get, it means something to me and I still feel like it's my first one," she said. "I guess it's never going to end."
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