Boys & Their Toys… (Part 1)

I was 8 in 1988 so I remember most of my toys for that decade. I had so much great stuff I didn't keep or destroyed by not looking after it. I distinctly remember my prized possessions from the era. My castle “Grey-Skull” complete with trap-door and secret entrance (which for some reason Skeletor could never find) My dinky cars that I crashed in insane imaginary “Need for Speed” contests. My little crawling turtle that my Dad tells me today, he skimped and saved to buy to pander to my bawling needy behaviour. My very first Atari gaming console followed by the unbelievable (for its time) graphics enriched Nintendo in all its 8-bit glory.

These are just some of the toys that bring a smile to my face even today as I reminiscence about them. I’m all of 26 and a half today but some things never change. I developed a love for technology and electronics at a very young age; an expensive pastime none-the-less, but an immensely pleasurable one. To my little 8 year ol’ brain, these gadgets were almost like magic and I wanted to know what makes them “tick.”

I found toasters fascinating (especially the ones with the automatic dials for toast control) I was greatly amused by the giant cuckoo-clock that adorned the walls of my small hall. I remember standing at my neighbor’s house on Hill Road staring at a funny doorbell of sorts that would quirt water at you through its pee-pee every time you pulled a string; of course, owning something like that today would start a whole verbal spar on the metaphor of homosexuality, but that’s what I love about being a child – pull string, get sprayed = lots of glee time.

I remember getting my first car; there is no thrill in comparison. The euphoria that follows he first gear shifts is unparalleled and I’m certain, a universal emotion. I’ve owned and enjoyed a lot of toys throughout my life and although my Mom had bet that I would outgrow them, I was sure that bleeping bleeps would always amuse me for life. Today, I enjoy “toys” with the same kind of enthusiasm; sure, they’ve become more expensive, more fancy and have enough processing power to launch a nuke – however, they still does serve their most important purpose. The shiny surface that is uncovered when you unfold the plastic brings the same joy to my face as did the opening of the secret entrance of castle Grey-Skull.

Sure, it’s questionable whether I’ve grown up or not but well, that’s a whole new blog…