By The Way...

Thursday, December 6, 2007
7:47:00 PM EST
Hearing Fidelity -- Regina Spektor
As you all know, I currently have an eight year old in the house, and I have to say she has been rather assiduously dropping hints about what she wants/expects/demands both for Christmas (which is out seasonal holiday of choice) and for her birthday, which is right around Christmas as well. Which made me think of my own wants/expects/demands when I was eight. Which, naturally enough, leads to this week's Weekend Assignment:

Weekend Assignment #194: Think back to when you were eight years old. What did you really really really want for Christmas/Hanukkah/Other seasonal celebration? We're taking the thing you wanted so much that you would just die if you didn't get it. If you can't remember what that was when you eight specifically, then pick an age close to it. But if you can remember what thing was when you were eight: Share it!

Extra Credit: Did you get it?



Man, when I was eight, I wanted Micronauts so bad I could taste 'em, and they tasted like plastic and metal, because that's what they were. I don't know how many people remember them now, but the best way to describe them as Transformers before Transformers were cool. I remember seeing a big display of them at the local Montgomery Ward, and just about toppling over from desire. I really was a geek, even then.

Did I get them? Yes! They were small and relatively cheap, so I got several. And lo, I was the happiest boy in all of Covina! And unlike so many objects of toy desire, I remember actually playing with them for a nice long time. I've lost them since then, but, you know, it was 30 years ago. If I still had them, it might be time for an intervention.

Your turn! Run back the clock to your eighth year and remember what it was you wanted under the tree/menorah/whatever. Write about it in your blog or journal, and then come back here to leave a link!


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This entry has 6 comments: (Add your own)

• #6 Comment from redonionsauce 
  12/25/07 7:52 PM | Permalink

  1960. I was eight years old.  My father would always ask what I wanted for Christmas.  I never had an answer for him because I believed that the gift should come from the giver not a reproduction of the givee's wants.
  
  I was in third grade.  Spent half the year in public school andhalf the year in Catholic school.  What did I want that year?  TO STAY IN PUBLIC SCHOOL.  THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.  SO, I DIDN'T REALLY GET WHAT I WANTED THAT YEAR.  I NEVER OPENLY OR SILIENTLY ASKED FOR ANYTHING FOR CHRISTMAS.
  
• #5 Comment from promiseluv372 
  12/7/07 5:22 PM | Permalink

  Here's mine
  http://journals.aol.com/promiseluv372/PromiseMe/#Entry1678
• #4 Comment from ondinemonet 
  12/7/07 4:09 PM | Permalink

  Hi John :)
  
  You can find out what my fondest Christmas wish gift was right here...
  
  http://ellipsissuddenlycarly.blogspot.com/2007/12/john-scalzis-weekend-assignment-194.html
  
  My goodness, I was 8 years old in 1970. That makes me ancient. LOL. Have a good weekend.
  
  -Carly
• #3 Comment from mavarin 
  12/7/07 3:43 AM | Permalink

  Tales of two gifts from 1965:
  
  http://outmavarin.blogspot.com/2007/12/christmas-morning-1965.html
  
  Karen
• #2 Comment from michmattel 
  12/6/07 10:30 PM | Permalink

  My entry is at: http://michelefamily.wordpress.com/2007/12/06/weekend-assignment-194-what-you-wanted-back-when/
  
  Great Assignment :)

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