I have put away my childish things

 

Hello from "colorful Colorado!" We've been slow to update the blog because vacation season is upon us. However, as I sit in my parents' house, relaxing and enjoying the lovely CO summer weather (a pleasant change from my usual summer digs in AZ), my mind has taken an additional trip...down "Memory Lane."

The weekend before vacation, a movie was released that I (and probably many of you) had been looking forward to for months--Pixar's latest great film, "Toy Story 3." I was already a teenager when the first "Toy Story" came out in theaters, but I wasn't ashamed to fall in love with it (and with its sequel, a few years later). The "Toy Story" movies have amazing animation, true, but their true appeal lay in their story -- a simultaneously hilarious and compassionate meditation on toys and their love for the children who play with them and give their lives meaning.

Well, long story short, it was an interesting coincidence to see the 3rd Toy Story film (in which our toy heroes must deal with the fact that Andy, their beloved owner, has grown up and is moving away from home & out of their lives forever) just before traveling to my OWN childhood home, and seeing all the books, toys, & games that made up such a huge part of my youth.

Did anybody else ever have this Sesame Street clubhouse? It's pretty old & ratty now, but it was the site of many fabulous adventures when I was small.

In my daydreams, I couldn't help but compare my parent's basement to Andy's attic--a place where our old toys have languished, largely forgotten. If "Toy Story" turns out to be a documentary (if toys actually DO come to life & have feelings), what must these toys be thinking? I hope that the occasional visit by grandchildren is enough to sustain their feelings of self-worth...

 

At least, I hope that's the case for this messy display of old Cabbage Patch dolls; they certainly look like they could use a little love!! I especially hope they haven't become like Losto in the 3rd film (or to a lesser extent, Jesse in the 2nd film), and grown embittered and cynical (or even despotic) in the absence of a child who plays with them. I hope my parents' basement hasn't become like Sunnyside Daycare--a "prison camp" for beat-up toys!

Okay, enough silly speculating...

I saw several other toys which took me back several years; remember the Popples?

 

I used to have lots more of them, but perhaps the others have moved on (to another kids' house, a daycare, a fiery incinerator at the dump--who knows??). All I know is that these two are all that remain--and a little the worse for wear. They look like they could use a good wash, but my girls still loved them.

**Secret Shame Time!!***I was a bit of a tomboy growing up, and I thought Mom had thrown away most of my action figures. Then, what should we discover but a mother lode of our old Masters of the Universe toys:

Here, of course, is the Castle Greyskull set; kind of creepy! If I remember correctly, isn't the the home base of the HERO? If so, it's a little grim...the facade is definitely more terrifying than inspiring.

And here's the box of old He-Man action figures, mostly missing their parts & accessories (they've been lost/chewed on to death over the years). The ridiculous musculature of these toys...it made me laugh out loud!! It looks like He-Man & Skeletor have been "juicing," if ya know what I mean...

And here's Teela, He-Man's girlfriend/cousin/token female warrior teammate/et al. She had a pretty cool snake mask, but I seem to have misplaced it...

Oh, and each action figure of course came with its own comic book, which is so weird and hilarious it was the icing on my nostalgia cake...

"Feel the force of my fist, frozen fiend!!" *snicker*

Then, however, I hit the "He-Man" jackpot--apparently, my mom bought us another He-Man toy and another separate weapons pack, but never ended up giving them to us. They're still in the original boxes--complete with original price tags...wow. I've found our family's "Stinky Pete the Prospector" (see: Toy Story 2).

Wow...look at all the other Masters of the Universe toys I can buy! Oh wait a minute...

I wonder how this "original packaging" toy has passed the years--up on my parents' freezer, far removed from all the other toys, year after lonely year. Does this He-Man, like Stinky Pete, crave recognition and fame? Or does he just want to be opened & played with? I encouraged Mom to sell these packages on eBay, or at one of the conventions she attends. I wonder what this toy's ultimate fate will be...

Okay, time to wrap up this self-indulgent post....and time to go play with my family and enjoy my vacation! I leave you with a picture (pre-vacation) of Lorelai & Celeste with a bunch of their favorite toys (including, ironically, Woody & Buzz). Continuing the "Toy Story" theme...I wonder how long these toys have before my girls outgrow them? However much time is left to them, I hope they find as much joy in my daughters as my daughters find in them!

More vacation nitty-gritty at a later time. Happy Fourth of July, everyone!