Tag Archives: toys

Let’s Play!

4th post for #bloganuary (a WordPress event)

The Prompt: What was your favorite toy as a child?

Before getting into the subject at hand, let me say hello to my recent followers. It’s been very refreshing to join the WordPress platform and connect with friends both old and new. I previously hosted my blog on a platform that didn’t support commenting and it sometimes felt like I was posting to the ether. While I write for myself, I share for human connection. It’s a nice change to see the engagement here and I look forward to continuing to get to know each of you.

Ok, now let’s get down to business. Favorite toy, huh? Not the most stimulating of prompts to be honest, but the first three were great so I’ll forgive the WordPress team for not having 31 winners all lined up for the month. Besides you never know the stories that can come out from even the most pedestrian questions. There is also the possibility that by analyzing our favorite toys we might be able to identify the serial killer among us (there’s always at least one, right?). I’m not sure how exactly to decode the linkage between how we play and how we kill, but it’s an interesting thought experiment. And in case you were wondering…NO, I’m not a serial killer. Honest. Seriously. I was just joking (doth he protest too much)? I promise it was just one time…

Um, where was I? Ah yes, favorite toy. I’ve thought a lot about this (over the past five minutes while on a murderous tangent) and I have to go with Nintendo Classic Super Mario Brothers. It was a late entry as I first got the system when I was a junior in high school. I bought it second hand from a colleague at the movie theater I worked at. I’d never had a video game system (although I’d played Atari when visiting my dad). I think it was the first time that I spent my hard earned cash ($3.25 an hour was the rate at the time; minimum-wage) on something that was for pure fun.

There were also special circumstances that led to the purchase and the enjoyment. I happened to be grounded half-way through my 16th year (and it lasted all the way through my 17th year – yes, I really did F-up that badly. It’s a story for another time). Being grounded meant I wasn’t wasting my money on getting into trouble anymore…and it meant I desperately needed something to do in all my free time. It was the perfect recipe for an addictive video game experience and Mario came to the rescue.

I played that thing for a year before I finally completed the game. With Princess Peach in my arms I simultaneously celebrated the success and mourned the loss of further adventure. It’s just not the same replaying a game you’ve already completed.

I tried playing again decades later with my kids but it was too hard to go back to the limited lives scenario of the classic game. I think my kids lasted about twenty minutes before giving up and going back to the Wii. Despite the lack of replay value (for me), I still choose it as my favorite toy. Anything that can occupy a teenage boy for a year that doesn’t get him into trouble is pretty impressive in my book.

That’s all for today.

Be well,

Monty