Most of us are familiar with Mount Rushmore. The huge sculpture carved into a mountain in the Black Hills of South Dakota depicts the faces of four presidents. From left to right are Washington, Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Lincoln. It took 14 years to complete and is a national treasure.

But during the pandemic when so many of us isolated at home other versions of Mount Rushmore emerged as a way to occupy all that downtime. The game evolved where you were asked for your Mount Rushmore of many things besides the presidents. For example, you were asked to name your top four subjects such as candy, cereal or rock groups. Many zoom meetings were scheduled during the pandemic to share lists.

Speaking of zoom, I do not remember if it existed before the covid lockdown. Now an integral part of our vocabulary, zoom has served to keep us in contact with our friends around the globe. Actually, I first heard the word zoom way back in 1985 when Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, released the song “Who's Zoomin Who.” Aretha makes most Mount Rushmore lists of R&B singers.

But let us now zoom in and focus on some popular Mount Rushmore games. If you asked me to name my Mount Rushmore of candy, the first one that comes to mind is Snickers, it is a classic and I have tastebuds that crave peanuts and chocolate. Speaking of chocolate my second candy is the Hershey Bar. There is a reason it is called the “great American chocolate bar.” Coming in third would have to be Reese's peanut butter cups. Again, for me, it is that peanut butter and chocolate thing. The fourth pick was a toss up between a Kit Kat bar and a Chunky. Forced to pick one, I will “break me off a piece” of that Kit Kat bar.

My first two selections for the Mount Rushmore of cereal were easy selections. I hoisted a spoonful of Cheerios and Raisin Bran. Both fill many breakfast bowls across America. My sweet tooth kicked in to help me fill out my next two cereal selections. I had to include Cap'n Crunch. Those sweetened squares of corn and oats were a mainstay in my childhood cupboard. I still remember the television commercial that told us “we'll eat before we go ashore.” Finishing my list had to be Frosted Flakes. Why? Well, to put it simply as Tony the Tiger says, “They're gr-r-reat!”

My final Mount Rushmore list is rock bands. There are so many to choose from. Different eras, styles and memorable albums all serve to make this a difficult choice. But it was easy for me. Because they were prolific in so many styles, number one for me, The Beatles.

Next up are two of the rock bands that occupied years on my turntable. I was lucky enough to see them so many times throughout the years. Ladies and Gentlemen I give you the Rolling Stones and The Who. The fourth band is a toss-up between Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band and the Kinks. But if forced to choose, I would have to pick Bruce because I too was “born in the USA.”. Oh, and if there was a Mount Rushmore of rock albums, number one and two on my hit parade would be Exile On Main Street and Who's Next. Those are followed by Sgt. Pepper's and Born To Run.

So that covers three popular Mount Rushmore lists. You can do it for just about anything. How about top four types of fruit? Another popular one is favorite movies.

So, make up one of your own, schedule a zoom call with a group of friends and share those Mount Rushmore selections. Afterwards, try to figure out how Teddy Roosevelt made it on the actual Mount Rushmore. Also, why is he staring into Abe's right ear?