Have you kept a favourite possession from your childhood?

[Australis]

When we first came to Australia, the very first toy my parents bought me (1960) was a stuffed koala bear, actually made of kangaroo skin. Forward to around 2000, and the two dogs we had tore it apart. They were lovely dogs, but I had a small chip of ice in my heart towards them because of that.

In the mid 60s one of my aunts sent me this:

The spring on the top held a little spaceman made of cardboard in a styrofoam cup (imagine an upside down mushroom), and a little fan inside would make the spaceman hover. All the toys I had, like this and non-Lego bricks made of soft plastic fired my imagination, as well as Gerry Anderson TV annuals. I miss them all. But that spaceship is till in a box somewhere.

 

[HIjol]

When we first came to Australia, the very first toy my parents bought me (1960) was a stuffed koala bear, actually made of kangaroo skin. Forward to around 2000, and the two dogs we had tore it apart. They were lovely dogs, but I had a small chip of ice in my heart towards them because of that.

In the mid 60s one of my aunts sent me this:

The spring on the top held a little spaceman made of cardboard in a styrofoam cup (imagine an upside down mushroom), and a little fan inside would make the spaceman hover. All the toys I had, like this and non-Lego bricks made of soft plastic fired my imagination, as well as Gerry Anderson TV annuals. I miss them all. But that spaceship is till in a box somewhere.

Premium!!!

Kangaroo Skin???!!!

 

[Moviefan2k4]

I didn't treasure many things from my childhood, partly because we were usually moving pretty often, and also because we honestly couldn't afford a lot. We were never dirt poor (thank God), and my elders worked hard to make sure we usually never missed out on things like birthdays or Christmas...but the rest of the time was fairly uneventful. My main pastimes were spent getting books at the library, recording songs off the radio to cassette tapes, and playing what were then considered current video games (I grew up in the NES era). I eventually sold or trashed most of my childhood possessions, though I did re-purchase some of my favorite NES games several years ago (my older sister even gave me a copy of the original Mega Man for Christmas in 2015).

 

[Australis]

Kangaroo Skin???!!!

Kangaroos, then, were regarded as a pest, as they'd get into wheat crops, eat lots and reproduce prolifically. Up until about 20 years ago, kangaroo hunting was a legit job. Many parts were recycled, mostly as pet meat, though in more recent times it's regarded as a restaurant delicacy. Skins were used everywhere.

 

[HIjol]

Kangaroos, then, were regarded as a pest, as they'd get into wheat crops, eat lots and reproduce prolifically. Up until about 20 years ago, kangaroo hunting was a legit job. Many parts were recycled, mostly as pet meat, though in more recent times it's regarded as a restaurant delicacy. Skins were used everywhere.

Wow…the things you learn…

 

[Commander Troi]

Did you ever get to hear him sing?

Sadly, no.

 

[Colonel Midnight]

When I was young, I had a pretty decent (at least to me) collection of Matchbox cars, including a suitcase style case for storage. Probably about 50-60 cars all told.

Anyway, I remember having a conversation with my Mom at one point of ‘Be sure to keep this, so that you can pass it along to your children.’ I think I was about 8 or 9 at the time.

Skip ahead 40+ years (Yeah, I’m an Old Curmudgeon.), Mom and Dad have both passed away, estate’s cleaned out, I’ve done military time and since moved to Hawaii, lots of TrekBBS posting in-between, etc.

Last Christmas, my one sister emails me to expect a package and to ‘Make sure the Little Man (my son) opens it with you.’

It was the Matchbox set, as you can guess, complete with the cars.
(Tears in a good way, of course.)

Cheers,
-CM-

 

[Moviefan2k4]

When I was young, I had a pretty decent (at least to me) collection of Matchbox cars, including a suitcase style case for storage. Probably about 50-60 cars all told.

Anyway, I remember having a conversation with my Mom at one point of ‘Be sure to keep this, so that you can pass it along to your children.’ I think I was about 8 or 9 at the time.

Skip ahead 40+ years (Yeah, I’m an Old Curmudgeon.), Mom and Dad have both passed away, estate’s cleaned out, I’ve done military time and since moved to Hawaii, lots of TrekBBS posting in-between, etc.

Last Christmas, my one sister emails me to expect a package and to ‘Make sure the Little Man (my son) opens it with you.’

It was the Matchbox set, as you can guess, complete with the cars.
(Tears in a good way, of course.)

Cheers,
-CM-

That is so touching. I don't have any kids myself, but my aunt Brenda (who sadly passed a few years ago) once gave me some vintage Star Wars figures, complete with carry case. They're not mint by any means, but its still a cool piece of history and a memory of family.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

I was a HUGE band geek when I was in high school. I played in literally every band I could: Marching band, Concert band, Orchestra, and two different Jazz bands.

I still have the trombone I played, but I doubt I could blow a note on it now. I don't even think the slide can move anymore.

 

[DarrenTR1970]

Books too numerous to mention. If I was to pick one however, it would be Aircraft Carriers by Norman Polmar, or, as I call, "The Big Blue Book".

When my family moved to the Eastside in 1979, the nearest library was Kingsgate.

One day while browsing the shelves, I saw this book the size of a telephone directory with "Aircraft Carriers" on the spine.

I pulled it down, started flipping through the pages and immediately fell in love with the pictures and illustrations of the Carriers and their Aircraft.

I checked it out, and read that book cover to cover, as well as my ten year old reading comprehension skills could understand.

When it came time to return it, I renewed it and kept renewing it until the library said that there were other patrons on the waiting list who wanted to check it out. Mom even offered to buy the book, but the library said "No", so I reluctantly returned it, and never saw it again for over a decade.

Then, one day in '92 I was at the library and what should I see on the shelf but the "Big Blue Book".

I immediately checked it out and took it home and fell in love with it all over again.

Shortly afterwards, my parents separated/divorced.

I used this as an excuse to tell the library that the book was lost, either through the garage sale or in the move to the apartment and I paid the lost book fee/fine, and it's been with me ever since.

That book holds a prized place on my shelf. If the apartment was on fire and I had one thing to save aside from my two cats, that book would be it.

 

[HIjol]

I was a HUGE band geek when I was in high school. I played in literally every band I could: Marching band, Concert band, Orchestra, and two different Jazz bands.

I still have the trombone I played, but I doubt I could blow a note on it now. I don't even think the slide can move anymore.

Band Geeks Reign Supreme!
(Clarinet, here…)

 

[HotRod]

I've managed to hold on to pretty much every book, blanket, stuffed animal, and toy that I ever had as a child. Granted, most of them are in storage in the house which I grew up in.

A select few have migrated their way up to where I live and now belong to my son.

Of particular note would be things like my original baby blanket, hand made by my grandmother. It was my sons first blanket when we brought him home from the hospital. My original 80's Transformers. He liked those for awhile, until he mostly fell away from "action figures." And probably my favourite, my 1991 re-release of 101 Dalmatians stuffed "Lucky." I got it when I was 7 and absolutely adored that thing. Thankfully, my son loves it too and he sleeps with it every night.

 

[scotpens]

I've had a somewhat battered green toolbox since I was 10 years old. I used to keep my paints and art supplies in it. Now I just use it for random stuff. I also have a Kodak Brownie camera that my mother took baby pictures of me with. Of course, they don't make film for it anymore. I just keep it for nostalgia's sake.

Kangaroos, then, were regarded as a pest, as they'd get into wheat crops, eat lots and reproduce prolifically. Up until about 20 years ago, kangaroo hunting was a legit job. Many parts were recycled, mostly as pet meat, though in more recent times it's regarded as a restaurant delicacy. Skins were used everywhere.

You mean they don't have professional roo shooters anymore?

 

[Australis]

You mean they don't have professional roo shooters anymore?

They do, but far fewer than there used to be.

 

[LAFR]

Somethings are very old, some have been repurchased from flea markets.

flea markets.

 

[HIjol]

Flea
Markets
Rock!
Great Score!!!

 

[LAFR]

Flea
Markets
Rock!
Great Score!!!

You bet!

 

[Commander Troi]

Somethings are very old, some have been repurchased from flea markets.

flea markets.

My husband bought me a Merlin a few years ago when I mentioned my parents wouldn't get me one when they came out.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Somethings are very old, some have been repurchased from flea markets.

flea markets.

I've got a rocket ship like the one on the right. It's not in good shape like that one. I've also have a clock like the one on the left but for some reason I can't get it to time anymore.

 

[Sparkle Fabulosa]

My Batty Beanie Baby (tye dye version) and my green velvet copy of Anne Of Green Gables.

I thought I lost Batty last year and had a meltdown! That bat has been with me through five homes and two countries. Thankfully he was found!

Also a few of my baby clothes and a pink/white crocheted blanket.

My mom still has all my baby teeth somewhere which is weird.