Mental Musings from
The Marginatrix
...because sometimes I just need to share my thoughts.
Remember when ads for toys made you believe in magic? Remember when the play you watched in an ad seemed like something tangible, something that could exist in your own home if only you could have that toy? For a short time it was the Easy Bake oven that filled me with a sense of possibility. That hope was quickly quashed when my Mom announced that it was likely a fire hazard and we could just use the actual oven in our very own kitchen, with supervision, of course. Now, I realize she must have been appalled by the thought of something so banal coming into our home. Her Italian instincts would not allow for anything less than authentic homemade food in our house.
So I set my sights on something else and it became my most fervent wish, of which I frequently reminded my parents. On some level, I knew it was probably too expensive, but I bargained that it was the only thing I wanted. So when Christmas morning arrived and the large box sat under the tree, I could barely contain my excitement. My brother, too, was anxious to open his similarly large gift, but that was immaterial to me. Like the perfect angels we were, on this morning at least, we waited for permission before tearing into the wrapping. I'm sure I had tears in my eyes when I uncovered the covered Barbie's Friendship Airplane. I was overjoyed and couldn't wait to play with it. Meanwhile, my brother opened his gift--Big Jim and his Sports Camper. Who was Big Jim anyway? He certainly wasn't Ken, but what did I care? We had our own individual toys that could be used together. And something funny happened. I discovered that Barbie's airplane wasn't actually magic after all. The snack cart was not self-propelled. The clothes hanging in the wardrobe were flat images printed on vinyl. There were two seats and a table and Barbie couldn't even sit comfortably. Meanwhile, Big Jim's camper was exciting, with lots of accessories, and best of all, we'd had no preconceived notions, no shattered expectations. Secretly, I liked my brothers gift better than my own, but I would never tell my parents. They'd gotten me the one gift I'd requested. I appreciated it. But I watched commercials with a much more skeptical eye after that, determined I'd not be fooled again. Barbie's Friendship Airplane was an expensive lesson, but I believe it is one that has served me well. 2019-12-11
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Elizabeth J. Connor
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