This is a beautifully written reminiscence of a time when the simple pleasures of living in the now, the present moment, were all that really mattered as we savored the pastimes, games and activities of childhood.
When I was a boy in the late 50s I loved to spend hours constructing commercial buildings and small sections of big city downtowns with skyscrapers and such. So much fun. The toy was called Girder and Panel Building Set. I don’t think my “skyscrapers” were ever more than 5-6 stories tall. That must have seemed ambitious enough.
What a cool-looking set! I was also a fan of LEGOs and Tinker Toys for building. We had the Tinker Toy set with the motor that could make cars go or ferris wheels turn. Those were definitely times of simpler pleasures.
No 'building sets' per se, but I did love my Easy Bake Oven and a variety of board games. "Pie in the Face" is unforgettable, a spring-loaded hand would actually hit you in the face with a fake-sponge cake that we loaded with whipped cream. I'm sure that would be banned for safety reasons today :)
I also had an EZ Bake Oven! I cringe to think what was in those mixes, but it was a blast to watch things "bake" by the power of a light bulb. I have no idea why I was so fascinated; we baked a ton of homemade things in a real oven. Maybe it was the "I can do it all myself" aspect?
This piece is so atmospheric and calming. I love the attention span it talks about, the uninterrupted focus on something you're doing just for the fun of it. When did we all become so "purposeful" and production oriented? Fe!
I know, right? I'd love to have this attention span back. I'm trying to re-cultivate it by embracing a form of digital minimalism and scouring my schedule for free moments to read, knit, and play the piano.
It's amazing how all three of those activities redirect your brain. Add word puzzles or pottering about in the garden or housework and you've got a rich and fulfilling mental life (teehee). Getting onto to Substack as a writing platform has broadened the brain cells in another direction too. Just anything physical, mental, or social away from the scrolling is beneficial.
So true! Knitting is great for me because I'm very pattern-oriented. I tend to think in patterns or sets. I've done it for so long that my hands know the rhythm of the stitches, and I can work on certain projects while doing other things. Sock knitting + reading = doubly productive!
I'm impressed. Knitting socks and reading??? Holy merde! I've gotten to the point where I can knit garter stitch without too many blunders while staring into space or watching a movie. Kudos!
This is a beautifully written reminiscence of a time when the simple pleasures of living in the now, the present moment, were all that really mattered as we savored the pastimes, games and activities of childhood.
When I was a boy in the late 50s I loved to spend hours constructing commercial buildings and small sections of big city downtowns with skyscrapers and such. So much fun. The toy was called Girder and Panel Building Set. I don’t think my “skyscrapers” were ever more than 5-6 stories tall. That must have seemed ambitious enough.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1068796669/
What a cool-looking set! I was also a fan of LEGOs and Tinker Toys for building. We had the Tinker Toy set with the motor that could make cars go or ferris wheels turn. Those were definitely times of simpler pleasures.
No 'building sets' per se, but I did love my Easy Bake Oven and a variety of board games. "Pie in the Face" is unforgettable, a spring-loaded hand would actually hit you in the face with a fake-sponge cake that we loaded with whipped cream. I'm sure that would be banned for safety reasons today :)
Haha, that sounds...interesting...🤣
I also had an EZ Bake Oven! I cringe to think what was in those mixes, but it was a blast to watch things "bake" by the power of a light bulb. I have no idea why I was so fascinated; we baked a ton of homemade things in a real oven. Maybe it was the "I can do it all myself" aspect?
Your childhood reflections always transport me back to my own unhindered youth in some way, and for that I'm grateful. Thanks, Sam!
Thanks, Cyd! Always glad for your support. :)
What was your favorite building set when you were a kid? Or did you have another toy that was your go-to?
This piece is so atmospheric and calming. I love the attention span it talks about, the uninterrupted focus on something you're doing just for the fun of it. When did we all become so "purposeful" and production oriented? Fe!
I know, right? I'd love to have this attention span back. I'm trying to re-cultivate it by embracing a form of digital minimalism and scouring my schedule for free moments to read, knit, and play the piano.
It's amazing how all three of those activities redirect your brain. Add word puzzles or pottering about in the garden or housework and you've got a rich and fulfilling mental life (teehee). Getting onto to Substack as a writing platform has broadened the brain cells in another direction too. Just anything physical, mental, or social away from the scrolling is beneficial.
So true! Knitting is great for me because I'm very pattern-oriented. I tend to think in patterns or sets. I've done it for so long that my hands know the rhythm of the stitches, and I can work on certain projects while doing other things. Sock knitting + reading = doubly productive!
I'm impressed. Knitting socks and reading??? Holy merde! I've gotten to the point where I can knit garter stitch without too many blunders while staring into space or watching a movie. Kudos!
It's a process! But a basic sock is pretty much just knitting around and around for rows on end, so it's largely automatic after a while.
Until you get to the heel.