On a recent visit at my mother's house, we were in a conversation about my favorite toys and activities as a child. I still have some of my cherished belongings and it has been years since I have looked at any of it.

She took me to the part of the basement that stores these fun artifacts. It seems that I have about twenty treasure filled boxes, but we only rummaged through two of them. She has been threatening for years to drop them off where I live (not that I had any extra space). Now that I have ample space to store stuff and that so much time has passed, I am kind of excited about this excavation. I am sure to find toys, school papers, notes to friends, pictures, and all sorts of remnants from my past, until I was 19 years old.

I intend to be selective in what I keep and will toss the rest. I am sentimental at times, but I am not a "pack rat". I think a few good picures and a small sampling will provide plenty for memories in years to come.

I brought home a handful of toys. I never cared much for dolls. Admittedly, I despised them. Instead my favorite toys were stuffed animals, matchbox cars, army men (I called them Marine men, as my dad was in the Marines. I was taught that they were so much cooler than the army dudes), Fisher Price Little People, and anything that I could use to enhance my creativity- house hold items such as boxes, garbage cans, sheets, rope, spoons, etc; things that castles, spaceships and jungles were made of. The large back yard and woods behind it provided me with many hours of imaginative entertainment.

My toys were rarely new as we were pretty poor (I never really felt it though..)Most often they were second hand from family friends or purchased at garage sales. I never knew this or cared. As I reflected upon my absolute favorite toys and moments with them; my mom told how she acquired them. I don't have a lot of those items any longer; but toys that I had as a kid were ones that I had for a long time.

I took very good care of my belongings (unless someone unknowingly gave me a doll.. then,well off with their hair!) and I am surprised that what I do have is in as good of condition that it is.

I hope to find pictures of the items I no longer have.

So what I did find so far..

These were big in the mid 80's. My late friend Mike and I were big Garbage Pail collectors. They really were warped and gross. Wisperin' Woody and his cigarrette butts, and Ronnie Reagan, haha. I have a pile of them, here are a few.. remember these??



















I split my head open when I was two years old. Obviously I had to go to the hospital for some plastic surgery. I was annoyed with the doctors that they made me lay at the end of the bed, as opposed to the "pregnant ladies" side of the bed, where all the pillows were at. I was tired and just wanted to go to sleep. I couldn't understand why no one would let me doze off--either in the car ride to the hospital or while I was lying on the bed. Ofcourse, I know it was to keep me from slipping into a coma.

Later that day, just before being released from the hospital, my parents bought me Mongo, this thumb sucking monkey, as I was quite fond of my thumb as well-- and for many many years to come. I loved Mongo dearly. He now resides with me, sitting on a shelf in my office/exercise room.




CO2 wooden car we made in 7th grade shop class. Very cool.. mine kicked butt in the end of project race.


My beloved kitty, given to me at about two years of age. I still have it on my bed, next to my infamous stuffed turtle, Bob.


Mom made this horse for me, as a Christmas gift. I think I was around four years old. I believe it was a popular type of toy back then, and she decided to make on for me as opposed to buying somehting. I played with this a lot. It is in great condition! I brought that home with me as well.





This is a Whooly Woo. What exactly is a Whooly Woo? Well it was fluffy and cute, and all I needed to love it.


This little poker game machine predated my time, but I always played with it.


hmm, thought I had pictures of the little people and a few other items.. must be saved to the other computer.

Now, I must ask..

What was your first gaming machine?

I had an Odyssey 2. It had two contollers and a flat keyboard. Played games such as KC Munchkins Crazy Chase (just like Pac-Man, but more fun and cute looking. Odyssey was sued for this uncanny similarity), Helicopter Rescue, Wall Street (yawn!), Crypto Logic (a word scrambler. You put in the word, the system scrambled it, your opponent tried to figure it out-- it kept tally of guesses. Imagine all the dirty things we came up with..) and a really cool car race game. Not bad for the early eighties..

Then I skipped to (original) Nintendo.. and a few others. I still have the Nintendo. The Odyssey was tossed out or stolen when my car/apartment/car port was broken into a few years ago. The other systems are no longer around as well. I wouldnt mind something to play on, but I like playing on the PC.. who knows, maybe I will find something. Yeesh, there are so many toys and gadgets I want..

I am stil very much in tune with my playful, creative adventurous side. It comprises much of who I am and how I deal with things. Some of my interests are expensive, but mostly I am able to do a lot with very little. It just takes a little imagination.. a sense of humor.. and the wonderment of exploring life.