Oh look. It's Waldo!
And so many of you are now smiling and shaking your head. Probably feeling more than a lot nostalgic. I know I am. Found an article about this guy popping up in college games a lot recently. An interesting idea, but more to the point, it made me think of things long past, yet never forgotten.
Waldo is just one of many of those timeless things we enjoyed in years past. Some of us still do, be it in public or in the confines of our private dens. But when a reminder walks by, we can't help but return for a moment. Whether it's a Pokemon T-shirt, or a I love Lucy mug, or just the other day, three guys were out and about wearing the shirt of the original red, black, and blue Power Rangers.
Then the recent movie Wreck it Ralph comes along, and I go looking for a cane. I mean, look at the image here. Check out the purple snake.
And so many of you are now smiling and shaking your head. Probably feeling more than a lot nostalgic. I know I am. Found an article about this guy popping up in college games a lot recently. An interesting idea, but more to the point, it made me think of things long past, yet never forgotten.
Waldo is just one of many of those timeless things we enjoyed in years past. Some of us still do, be it in public or in the confines of our private dens. But when a reminder walks by, we can't help but return for a moment. Whether it's a Pokemon T-shirt, or a I love Lucy mug, or just the other day, three guys were out and about wearing the shirt of the original red, black, and blue Power Rangers.
Then the recent movie Wreck it Ralph comes along, and I go looking for a cane. I mean, look at the image here. Check out the purple snake.
Anyone remember him? Come on now. The answer's right there. That's right. Q'Bert! I remember that game. I grew up on that game!
Well okay, so my mom played it way more than I did. Details.
The point is, it got me thinking of all those ancient games many of our kids have never heard of. Things we had when we were their age. We see these things, we remember watching those shows, or doing those things, and that little kid we thought we left behind, returns to the surface.
So should he/she. Far too often I hear the words "aren't you a bit old for that kind of thing?" I don't think so. I proudly enjoy many books and movies that are aimed at the younger audience. And why not? Are the young the only ones that get to watch it? The moment they hear the words "animated film", many turn away. And they miss out on more classics that touch that child we try so hard to tell ourselves isn't there.
I don't get why, either. We grew up on things like the Power Rangers, or Pokemon, or any number of other things that now seam down-right silly. Now that we're adults and working, we have to leave it behind? Well that's dull.
Okay, there is a time and place for maturity. Showing up in a clown suit to a business meeting probably isn't the best of ideas. But still. Let the child live. And hold onto those memories. Those old time joys. I still have a copy of a book I loved called "The Flying Hockey Stick". I keep it as a reminder of the connection to my grandfather, who I would beg to read it time and time again.
Which leads to the other part of the old time things. How many families gathered around the TV for, well, whatever. I know mine would move heaven and Earth to avoid missing TGIF. (Anyone feeling old yet?) We youngsters grew up with the characters. As Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen aged, so did I. Now I look back and feel all warm inside because of the time spent together. It's almost like we knew them. And those we shared those things with knew them too. It brought us together in a way... well quite frankly, I don't see happening enough these days.
So what do we do? Just write it all off as lost? Continue to ho hum our way into adulthood? Not me. I'm a fiction writer. That spark of joy, the warm fuzzy feelings, that's what drives me. What spurs me on when I hit a "I got it good" moment. Plus it's just too precious to let go of. My grandfather is dead now. I miss him. I always will. But I'll also retain a tight hold on "The Flying Hockey Stick". He knew what it meant to me. Perhaps someday, I'll get to share it with others.
And as I write this, I find it ironic that I have recently become a full fledged hockey fan. Coincidence? I doubt it.
Well okay, so my mom played it way more than I did. Details.
The point is, it got me thinking of all those ancient games many of our kids have never heard of. Things we had when we were their age. We see these things, we remember watching those shows, or doing those things, and that little kid we thought we left behind, returns to the surface.
So should he/she. Far too often I hear the words "aren't you a bit old for that kind of thing?" I don't think so. I proudly enjoy many books and movies that are aimed at the younger audience. And why not? Are the young the only ones that get to watch it? The moment they hear the words "animated film", many turn away. And they miss out on more classics that touch that child we try so hard to tell ourselves isn't there.
I don't get why, either. We grew up on things like the Power Rangers, or Pokemon, or any number of other things that now seam down-right silly. Now that we're adults and working, we have to leave it behind? Well that's dull.
Okay, there is a time and place for maturity. Showing up in a clown suit to a business meeting probably isn't the best of ideas. But still. Let the child live. And hold onto those memories. Those old time joys. I still have a copy of a book I loved called "The Flying Hockey Stick". I keep it as a reminder of the connection to my grandfather, who I would beg to read it time and time again.
Which leads to the other part of the old time things. How many families gathered around the TV for, well, whatever. I know mine would move heaven and Earth to avoid missing TGIF. (Anyone feeling old yet?) We youngsters grew up with the characters. As Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen aged, so did I. Now I look back and feel all warm inside because of the time spent together. It's almost like we knew them. And those we shared those things with knew them too. It brought us together in a way... well quite frankly, I don't see happening enough these days.
So what do we do? Just write it all off as lost? Continue to ho hum our way into adulthood? Not me. I'm a fiction writer. That spark of joy, the warm fuzzy feelings, that's what drives me. What spurs me on when I hit a "I got it good" moment. Plus it's just too precious to let go of. My grandfather is dead now. I miss him. I always will. But I'll also retain a tight hold on "The Flying Hockey Stick". He knew what it meant to me. Perhaps someday, I'll get to share it with others.
And as I write this, I find it ironic that I have recently become a full fledged hockey fan. Coincidence? I doubt it.
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