In the late 80’s when I was not but 6 years old I remember asking my father if I could get a magic 8 ball, I had seen one during a TV commercial while watching cartoons. He said yes and we hopped into his car and drove down the street to a Children’s Palace toy store. I loved that store, the whole front facade was made to look like a castle with two ramparts on either side of the entrance. We made our way inside and I knew exactly where to go to snatch my treasure. I opened it as soon as we were back in the car and began putting my faith in the answers it would show, the small multi-sided die inside would sink into the inky liquid after a shake, and then mysteriously float back up to the top window and reveal an ominous answer to your query.
I feel bad for kids today as most of the major toy stores are out of business and they will never get to see the glory of a whole store filled with toys from wall to wall. My mom use to drag me to department stores or the mall, and while she shopped I would play in the clothing racks, pretending I was hiding from cops or Indians (it was the 80s, okay?). Afterwards she would sometimes reward me for being good by stopping off at Toys’ R Us and allow me to pick out one or two small things, usually an action figure or small Lego set. I would stand in awe at the huge wall of board games they had at this store, from floor to ceiling and for a decent length– or the video game aisle and its endless possibilities of fun.
I feel sort of lucky to have grown up during that time, before the craziness of the internet and its effect of making the world seem smaller. When we stayed outside all day during the summer and played hide and go seek after supper while dusk set in and lightning bugs filled the yards as far as the eye can see. I can almost smell the sweet, cool night summer air.
At least the good memories out weigh the bad, but the nostalgia is still bittersweet. The freedom of being a child may be gone now but freedom as an adult has its benefits as well, and I think we should enjoy it just the same. I do miss seeing all those lightning bugs…